flounder
[verb]
Synonyms: fumble, grope, struggle, stumble, thrash, toss

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Related Words: strive, struggle, labor, toil, travail

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

I. floun‧der¹ /ˈflaʊndə $ -ər/ verb [intransitive]
[Date: 1500-1600; Origin: Probably from ⇒ founder²]

1. to not know what to say or do because you feel confused or upset:
I found myself floundering as I tried to answer her questions.
‘I’m sorry,’ she floundered helplessly.

2. to have a lot of problems and be likely to fail completely:
More and more firms are floundering because of the recession.

3. [always + adverb/preposition] to be unable to move easily because you are in deep water or mud, or cannot see very well:
They were floundering chest-deep in the freezing water.
flounder around
I could hear them floundering around in the dark.

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

II. flounder² noun (plural flounder or flounders) [uncountable and countable]
[Date: 1400-1500; Language: Anglo-French; Origin: floundre, from a Scandinavian language]
a type of small fish that you can eat

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲