splutter

1 of 2

noun

splut·​ter ˈsplə-tər 

1

: a confused noise (as of hasty speaking)

2

: a splashing or sputtering sound

splutter

2 of 2

verb

spluttered; spluttering; splutters

transitive verb

: to utter hastily or confusedly : stammer

intransitive verb

1

: to make a noise as if spitting

2

: to speak hastily and confusedly

splutterer

ˈsplə-tər-ər 

noun

Examples of splutter in a Sentence

Verb

She coughed and spluttered as she climbed out of the icy water.

When I demanded an explanation, he just stood there spluttering.

“Th-that's simply not true,” he spluttered.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The end of year push was looking good until the latest service splutter. —Tim Ellis, Forbes, 12 Oct. 2024

Some golden generations splutter and cough and, sealed in a bubble of entitlement, never come close to delivering. —Jonathan Wilson, SI.com, 10 July 2018

Verb

The pop and shake of spray paint cans alternates with the rat-a-tat-tat of spluttering exhausts from Ferraris and Lamborghinis. —James Horncastle, New York Times, 28 June 2025

Even as Liverpool have spluttered and stuttered, Mikel Arteta’s side have doggedly refused to take advantage, declining to ignite the thing as a contest. —Jack Lang, New York Times, 19 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

probably alteration of sputter

First Known Use

Noun

1677, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1693, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Rhymes for splutter

• butter
• clutter
• cutter
• flutter
• gutter
• mutter
• nutter
• putter
• rutter
• shutter
• sputter
• stutter

Kids Definition

splutter

1 of 2 noun

splut·​ter ˈsplət-ər 

1

: a confused noise (as of trying to talk too fast)

2

: a splashing or sputtering sound

splutter

2 of 2 verb

1

: to make a noise as if spitting

2

: to speak or say in haste or confusion