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
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
Libor Jany, Los Angeles Times, 25 May 2025
As the Knicks ran out of gas and sputtered, Nesmith kept his foot on the pedal.
—Fiifi Frimpong, New York Daily News, 22 May 2025
Mohammed Soliman, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Apr. 2025
Momentum stocks tend to suffer during times of uncertainty and when economic growth sputters.
—Garth Friesen, Forbes, 9 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sputter
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Verb
Another plan that would have replaced LAPD officers with unarmed transportation workers on traffic stops sputtered amid debates around jurisdiction and funding.
—Libor Jany, Los Angeles Times, 25 May 2025
As the Knicks ran out of gas and sputtered, Nesmith kept his foot on the pedal.
—Fiifi Frimpong, New York Daily News, 22 May 2025
Noun
So far, his transformative rebalancing of international trade sputters, though long-term, the benefits of onshoring can be truly historic.
—Mohammed Soliman, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Apr. 2025
Momentum stocks tend to suffer during times of uncertainty and when economic growth sputters.
—Garth Friesen, Forbes, 9 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sputter
Cite this Entry
“Sputter.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sputter. Accessed 28 May. 2025.
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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