1. (of a ship) sinking
   "The foundering of the ship in the storm led to a massive rescue operation";
   - going under

1. Fail utterly; collapse
   "The project foundered";
   - fall through, fall flat, flop, go to the wall [informal], come to nothing
    
2. Break down, literally or metaphorically
   "The wall foundered";
   - collapse, fall in, cave in, give, give way, break
    
3. Sink below the surface
   "The ship foundered in the storm"
    
4. Stumble and nearly fall
   "the horses foundered"

See also: fall

Type of: change, fail, go down, go under, go wrong, miscarry, settle, sink, sinking, stumble, trip

Encyclopedia: Foundering