1
as in collapsed
to be unsuccessful
the theater company foundered after its corporate funding dried up
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in tumbled
to fall down or in as a result of physical pressure
the twin towers started to sway and suddenly foundered
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of foundered
On screen, some of our best artists have foundered in translation.
—
Brittany Allen,
Literary Hub,
10 June 2026
But the president didn’t make clear why a federal takeover of a small airline that has foundered for years would be an efficient use of capital or benefit American taxpayers.
—
Editorial,
Boston Herald,
2 May 2026
Although in the commercial world, many print publications have foundered, data indicate that for alumni magazines, print remains powerful.
—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
22 Apr. 2026
Authentic specializes in acquiring and investing in famous retail properties that have foundered.
—
Los Angeles Times,
5 Apr. 2026
The site contains remains from multiple vessels, suggesting a history of merchant ships that likely foundered in the same treacherous area while approaching the shore.
—
Maria Mocerino,
Interesting Engineering,
28 Mar. 2026
Courts have interpreted Section 230 immunity broadly, and many earlier attempts to hold platforms accountable for child harm have foundered on it.
—
Carolina Rossini,
The Conversation,
26 Mar. 2026
The Eagles entered the 2025 season with a top-tier roster and foundered with an insufficient offensive system.
—
Brooks Kubena,
New York Times,
23 Feb. 2026
The kid who gets straight A’s through high school may struggle more in college than the one who foundered in ninth grade, figured out what went wrong, and then kept going.
—
Russell Shaw,
The Atlantic,
4 Feb. 2026
Brittany Allen,
Literary Hub,
10 June 2026
But the president didn’t make clear why a federal takeover of a small airline that has foundered for years would be an efficient use of capital or benefit American taxpayers.
—
Editorial,
Boston Herald,
2 May 2026
Although in the commercial world, many print publications have foundered, data indicate that for alumni magazines, print remains powerful.
—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
22 Apr. 2026
Authentic specializes in acquiring and investing in famous retail properties that have foundered.
—
Los Angeles Times,
5 Apr. 2026
The site contains remains from multiple vessels, suggesting a history of merchant ships that likely foundered in the same treacherous area while approaching the shore.
—
Maria Mocerino,
Interesting Engineering,
28 Mar. 2026
Courts have interpreted Section 230 immunity broadly, and many earlier attempts to hold platforms accountable for child harm have foundered on it.
—
Carolina Rossini,
The Conversation,
26 Mar. 2026
The Eagles entered the 2025 season with a top-tier roster and foundered with an insufficient offensive system.
—
Brooks Kubena,
New York Times,
23 Feb. 2026
The kid who gets straight A’s through high school may struggle more in college than the one who foundered in ninth grade, figured out what went wrong, and then kept going.
—
Russell Shaw,
The Atlantic,
4 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for foundered
Verb
-
Witnesses said ambulances and rescue workers rushed to the scene after the roof collapsed.
-
Families of the people in both apartment buildings – and others that collapsed in the area – have uploaded videos to social media in the days after the earthquake, pleading for help.
Verb
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Shannon Stone, 39, was at the game with his young son, who watched as his dad tumbled over the outfield railing after catching the ball.
-
Demand tumbled during the war as prices surged and fuel was in short supply.
Verb
-
Anders Carlson bombed in 2023, then Brayden Narveson flopped at the start of 2024.
-
The superhero movie flopped on opening weekend, with domestic ticket sales totaling approximately $38 million.
Verb
-
The rookie point guard went 7 of 19 from the field and 4 of 9 from 3-point range after struggling with his shot in his summer league debut.
-
Desperate to close the gap, Sebastian Berhalter brought energy off the bench and nearly scored, but his shot went wide left.
Verb
-
This was the case for Morocco’s opener, where Casemiro had eyes on two players at once while his team-mates failed to cut out the pass ahead of him.
-
The stutter-step approach by Bruno Guimãraes on the penalty kick failed anyway and the game remained scoreless into the first hydration break.
Verb
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The day could be sliced into identical pieces, the body trained to answer the bell, and the worker folded into a machine that only made sense when every human motion had been made useful to someone else.
-
Fire shelters weigh around 6 pounds and are folded up inside several protective layers in a firefighter’s pack.
Verb
-
Germany, whose 10 goals in the group stage were tied for the most of any team, struggled to find a way through Paraguay's 4-5-1 setup.
-
Even as her body struggled, Gifford noted her sense of humor never disappeared.
Cite this Entry
“Foundered.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/foundered. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
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