One who flounders does not fail completely but merely struggles. To founder is (1) to cave in, (2) to sink below the water, (3) to fail utterly, or (4) to go lame. While to flounder is merely to struggle, foundering usually involves utter failure.

The company floundered due to mismanagement and a lack of funds. (In this example, "flounder" means to struggle or perform poorly due to difficulty or confusion.) The company founded due to mismanagement and a lack of funds. (In this example, "founder" means to fail or collapse, in this case due to a lack of support or resources.)

What are the differences between flounder and founder? Flounder means to struggle or be in difficulty, while founder means to fail. Example of flounder: I floundered through my math test, unable to remember how to solve the equations. Example of founder: My business idea was a complete failure and unfortunately, it foundered.

Founder means, in its general and extended use, 'fail or come to nothing; sink out of sight' as in the plan foundered because of lack of organizational backing. Flounder, on the other hand. means 'struggle; move clumsily; be in a state of confusion,' as in ​ new recruits floundering in their first week.

One definition of flounder is to struggle or stagger helplessly in water or mud. If you flounder, you don’t necessarily fail completely. You just struggle, as if you were in a thick patch of mud. Just as a patch of mud might slow you down on a bike ride, floundering means you are struggling. Foundering, on the other hand, is to fail completely.