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
USA TODAY, 23 Feb. 2024
Global demand also has cooled off – partly because the U.S. Federal Reserve and other central banks have raised interest rates to combat inflation and partly because China’s powerhouse economy is sputtering.
—Paul Wiseman and Mae Anderson, The Christian Science Monitor, 30 Jan. 2024
Yet despite these accomplishments, Israel’s military campaign is sputtering.
—Daniel Byman, Foreign Affairs, 5 Apr. 2024
Between the offense sputtering late in games and their point-of-attack defenders not keeping the ball out of the paint, there are too many errors that keep reappearing.
—Shane Young, Forbes, 27 Mar. 2024
While cooling inflation and a robust GDP reading that smashed economists’ expectations are reasons to be optimistic about the US economy, one key economic engine seems to still be sputtering: small businesses.
—Samantha Delouya, CNN, 26 Feb. 2024
Authorities determined that the gunman was likely a man visiting West Reading from New York, but with no leads to go on, the investigation sputtered out.
—Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 26 Mar. 2024
Recommended Responsibility The last coal plant in New England is sputtering.
—Kanis Leung, The Christian Science Monitor, 19 Mar. 2024
But the company sputtered and some of the people surrounding Mizell didn’t have his best interests at heart, according to family members and industry veterans.
—Rich Schapiro, NBC News, 3 Mar. 2024
Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times, 30 Mar. 2024
China also seems to be easing its localization rules as its economy sputters, allowing more companies to store data outside China’s borders.
—Aziz Huq, Foreign Affairs, 11 Mar. 2024
European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde will likely push back Thursday against expectations for quick interest rate cuts even as Europe’s economy sputters and financial markets froth in hopes of cheaper credit that would boost business activity and stock prices.
—David McHugh, Fortune Europe, 25 Jan. 2024
Volcanic coughs and sputters have occurred since, but a bigger eruption may be inevitable in the days ahead.
—Matthew Cappucci, Washington Post, 13 Nov. 2023
Back in upstate New York, the Gigafactory 2 sputters on, just barely.
—Bychristiaan Hetzner, Fortune, 20 Nov. 2023
Since peaking in early 2018, American’s shares have dropped roughly 90%, crushing its market capitalization to a puny $7.1 billion as of October 27, a figure so shrunken that this iconic name now sputters as only as America’s 478th most valuable public enterprise.
—Shawn Tully, Fortune, 11 Nov. 2023
Irish independence is at hand, and families like the Boyles want to keep the ongoing sputters of violence in back alleys and on dark country roads as far out of sight and mind as possible.
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 13 Oct. 2023
Slovis, offense sputters in 14-0 win over Sam Houston.
—Kevin Reynolds, The Salt Lake Tribune, 3 Sep. 2023
Verb
And then there's a Cowboys running game that has sputtered.
—USA TODAY, 23 Feb. 2024
Global demand also has cooled off – partly because the U.S. Federal Reserve and other central banks have raised interest rates to combat inflation and partly because China’s powerhouse economy is sputtering.
—Paul Wiseman and Mae Anderson, The Christian Science Monitor, 30 Jan. 2024
Yet despite these accomplishments, Israel’s military campaign is sputtering.
—Daniel Byman, Foreign Affairs, 5 Apr. 2024
Between the offense sputtering late in games and their point-of-attack defenders not keeping the ball out of the paint, there are too many errors that keep reappearing.
—Shane Young, Forbes, 27 Mar. 2024
While cooling inflation and a robust GDP reading that smashed economists’ expectations are reasons to be optimistic about the US economy, one key economic engine seems to still be sputtering: small businesses.
—Samantha Delouya, CNN, 26 Feb. 2024
Authorities determined that the gunman was likely a man visiting West Reading from New York, but with no leads to go on, the investigation sputtered out.
—Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 26 Mar. 2024
Recommended Responsibility The last coal plant in New England is sputtering.
—Kanis Leung, The Christian Science Monitor, 19 Mar. 2024
But the company sputtered and some of the people surrounding Mizell didn’t have his best interests at heart, according to family members and industry veterans.
—Rich Schapiro, NBC News, 3 Mar. 2024
Noun
While her poor mother (Gemma Jones) weeps and authoritarian father (Timothy Spall) sputters with rage and the police drag their heels, Edith assumes the countenance of brave-faced, sympathy-slurping martyr in a worrisomely godless postwar society.
—Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times, 30 Mar. 2024
China also seems to be easing its localization rules as its economy sputters, allowing more companies to store data outside China’s borders.
—Aziz Huq, Foreign Affairs, 11 Mar. 2024
European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde will likely push back Thursday against expectations for quick interest rate cuts even as Europe’s economy sputters and financial markets froth in hopes of cheaper credit that would boost business activity and stock prices.
—David McHugh, Fortune Europe, 25 Jan. 2024
Volcanic coughs and sputters have occurred since, but a bigger eruption may be inevitable in the days ahead.
—Matthew Cappucci, Washington Post, 13 Nov. 2023
Back in upstate New York, the Gigafactory 2 sputters on, just barely.
—Bychristiaan Hetzner, Fortune, 20 Nov. 2023
Since peaking in early 2018, American’s shares have dropped roughly 90%, crushing its market capitalization to a puny $7.1 billion as of October 27, a figure so shrunken that this iconic name now sputters as only as America’s 478th most valuable public enterprise.
—Shawn Tully, Fortune, 11 Nov. 2023
Irish independence is at hand, and families like the Boyles want to keep the ongoing sputters of violence in back alleys and on dark country roads as far out of sight and mind as possible.
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 13 Oct. 2023
Slovis, offense sputters in 14-0 win over Sam Houston.
—Kevin Reynolds, The Salt Lake Tribune, 3 Sep. 2023
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 24 Apr. 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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