1
as in collapsed
to be unsuccessful
the theater company foundered after its corporate funding dried up
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of foundered
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
But past negotiations foundered on less ambitious demands.
—Bobby Ghosh, Time, 20 Jan. 2026
The arrest came as a relief to many on campus and in the surrounding Providence community, who endured five days of fear and uncertainty as the investigation foundered with few leads.
—Tovia Smith, NPR, 18 Dec. 2025
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
But past negotiations foundered on less ambitious demands.
—Bobby Ghosh, Time, 20 Jan. 2026
The arrest came as a relief to many on campus and in the surrounding Providence community, who endured five days of fear and uncertainty as the investigation foundered with few leads.
—Tovia Smith, NPR, 18 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for foundered
Verb
-
The brief, failed ouster of Altman in 2023 almost collapsed the ChatGPT maker, with investors pressing the board to bring back Altman and employees pledging to quit en masse if the CEO wasn’t reinstated.—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
27 Apr. 2026
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Over the past 50 years, the average size of wildlife populations has collapsed by 73% owing to nature loss and climate change.—
Tristan Bove,
Fortune,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
In after-hours trading, the stock tumbled more than 6% as a result of the jump in capex guidance.—
Amanda Gerut,
Fortune,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Brown tumbled head-first into a display of wine bottles during the struggle.—
Sheetal Banchariya,
New York Daily News,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Under Cook, the company has become less surprising but massively financially successful; some of Apple’s newer products have flopped or underperformed, but far more have become and stayed excellent thanks to years of competent iteration.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
24 Apr. 2026
-
Cuomo’s podcast and mayoral bid flopped.—
Jon Allsop,
New Yorker,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Maya Melendez, a ninth grader, went 3-for-4 with a home run, double and 7 RBI for the Patriots.—
Buddy Collings,
The Orlando Sentinel,
30 Apr. 2026
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The fans went home happy after an apparent makeup call wiped out a Saints go-ahead field goal, and the Packers avoided a 1-3 start by escaping with a 28-27 victory.—
Michael Silver,
New York Times,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The show focuses on how the Metropolitan Police failed to thoroughly investigate two women’s allegations, which left Worboys free to commit assaults undetected for many years.—
Max Goldbart,
Deadline,
29 Apr. 2026
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In 2013, Hall tried (and failed) to replicate the previous magic and his show was cancelled after one season, many blaming tougher competition than before.—
Rick Kogan,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
His xAI, now folded into his rocket company SpaceX, trails far behind OpenAI in usage.—
Deepa Seetharaman,
USA Today,
27 Apr. 2026
-
The Red Sox made a surprise playoff run last year, and then completely folded over the offseason.—
Zach Dean OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
After the fact, Mattel struggled to launch a popular action figure based on original IP.—
Jack Dunn,
Variety,
29 Apr. 2026
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And Russia has struggled to replenish its military ranks amid horrific casualties on the Ukrainian front line.—
Nathan Hodge,
CNN Money,
29 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Foundered.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/foundered. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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