The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 9 letter word FLOUNDERS
I've seen this crossword clue in The Daily Telegraph
F
L
O
U
N
D
E
R
S
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The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does FLOUNDERS mean?
FLOUNDERS verb- To flop around as a fish out of water.
- To make clumsy attempts to move or regain one's balance.
- To act clumsily or confused; to struggle or be flustered.
- To be in serious difficulty.