flounderings
Clumsy attempts everywhere
Flounderings are instances of struggling awkwardly or proceeding clumsily without clear direction.
The word captures repeated or multiple episodes of confusion and ineffective effort: His early flounderings in the job gave way to eventual competence.
The image evokes a fish thrashing helplessly out of water or a person wading through mud.
Decisive, lopsided defeat
- stumblingWalking clumsily, almost falling
- fumblingClumsy, uncoordinated handling
- graspingGreedy for wealth
- flailingUncontrolled limb movement
wallowing · muddling · blundering · groping · faltering · staggering · lurching · scrambling
State of being baffled
- disorientationLoss of spatial awareness
- perplexityMental state of confusion
- uncertaintyState of being unsure
- indecisionFailure to decide
hesitation · vacillation · dithering · wavering · muddle · befuddlement · fluster · discombobulation
Liquid striking noisily
- thrashingDecisive, lopsided defeat
- gaspingBreathing in sharp gulps
- drowningDeath by water inhalation
- sinkingFalling through water
submersion · struggling · treading · gulping · choking · surfacing · flailing · paddling
Reversals of progress
- misstepsMistakes or errors
- miscalculationsErrors in computation
- blundersSerious mistakes from carelessness
- mishapsMinor unfortunate occurrences
fiascos · debacles · collapses · breakdowns · meltdowns · implosions · nosedives · tailspins
thrashing
Decisive, lopsided defeat
- stumblingWalking clumsily, almost falling
- fumblingClumsy, uncoordinated handling
- graspingGreedy for wealth
flailing · wallowing · muddling · blundering · groping · faltering · staggering · lurching · scrambling · bumbling
bewilderment
State of being baffled
- disorientationLoss of spatial awareness
- perplexityMental state of confusion
- uncertaintyState of being unsure
indecision · hesitation · vacillation · dithering · wavering · muddle · befuddlement · fluster · discombobulation · bafflement
splashing
Liquid striking noisily
sinking · submersion · struggling · treading · gulping · choking · surfacing · flailing · paddling · kicking
setbacks
Reversals of progress
- misstepsMistakes or errors
- miscalculationsErrors in computation
- blundersSerious mistakes from carelessness
mishaps · fiascos · debacles · collapses · breakdowns · meltdowns · implosions · nosedives · tailspins · downturns
flounderingsskillfulness
Competence from practice
adeptness · deftness · sure-footedness · finesse · mastery
flounderingssmooth sailing
Untroubled progress forward
headway · breakthroughs · strides · successes · triumphs
flounderingssteadiness
State of being constant
stability · composure · equilibrium · balance · groundedness