sputtered; sputtering; sputters
1
: to spit or squirt from the mouth with explosive sounds
2
: to utter hastily or explosively in confusion or excitement
"that's ridiculous!" she sputtered
3
: to dislodge (atoms) from the surface of a material by collision with high energy particles
also
: to deposit (a metallic film) by such a process
1
: to spit or squirt particles of food or saliva noisily from the mouth
2
: to speak explosively or confusedly in anger or excitement
3
: to make explosive popping sounds
sputterer
noun
1
: confused and excited speech or discussion
2
: the act or sound of sputtering
Synonyms
Examples of sputter in a Sentence
Verb
The motor sputtered and died.
He was sputtering with rage.
She sputtered an angry protest.
“You, you have to be kidding!” he sputtered.
Recent Examples on the Web
Max Kim, Los Angeles Times, 5 June 2024
On a recent day, the island’s Indigenous residents rowed or sputtered off with outboard motors to fish.
—Matías Delacroix and Juan Zamorano, The Christian Science Monitor, 1 June 2024
Tiffani Jackson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 21 May 2024
When the offense sputters, the Orioles have the pitching staff to carry them
The Orioles’ offense looked unstoppable in April.
—Matt Weyrich, Baltimore Sun, 17 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for sputter 
Verb
Though Moon succeeded in bringing Kim and then-President Trump together for three historic summits, those talks sputtered out.
—Max Kim, Los Angeles Times, 5 June 2024
On a recent day, the island’s Indigenous residents rowed or sputtered off with outboard motors to fish.
—Matías Delacroix and Juan Zamorano, The Christian Science Monitor, 1 June 2024
Noun
Then, as if on cue, the truck’s engine sputters and dies.
—Tiffani Jackson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 21 May 2024
When the offense sputters, the Orioles have the pitching staff to carry them
The Orioles’ offense looked unstoppable in April.
—Matt Weyrich, Baltimore Sun, 17 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for sputter
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'sputter.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near sputter
Cite this Entry
“Sputter.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sputter. Accessed 12 Jun. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
sputter
1 of 2 verb
sput·ter
ˈspət-ər 
1
: to spit or squirt pieces of food or saliva noisily from the mouth
2
: to speak or utter hastily or explosively in confusion or excitement
sputtered out protests
3
: to make explosive popping sounds
the motor sputtered and died
sputterer
noun
-ər-ər
sputter
2 of 2 noun
: the act or sound of sputtering
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