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
Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 25 Oct. 2025
Miami’s defense collapsed in a 27-24 fourth-quarter loss to Carolina when the defense gave up a lead in the game’s final four minutes, and Miami’s offense sputtered on the final possession.
—Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 22 Oct. 2025
Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 29 Oct. 2025
However, while international efforts sputter, a growing movement is gaining steam at the subnational level as U.S. states and Canadian provinces adopt Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) programs to hold accountable the companies that put plastic packaging into the marketplace.
—Jeff Young, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sputter
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Verb
The defense carried the night, forcing five turnovers to allow the Broncos (5-2, 4-0 Mountain West) to otherwise sputter.
—Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 25 Oct. 2025
Miami’s defense collapsed in a 27-24 fourth-quarter loss to Carolina when the defense gave up a lead in the game’s final four minutes, and Miami’s offense sputtered on the final possession.
—Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 22 Oct. 2025
Noun
Advertisement Tilda Swinton Courtesy of Netflix Through it all, Farrell’s Doyle stammers and sputters, his woebegone eyebrows carrying the full weight of his worries.
—Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 29 Oct. 2025
However, while international efforts sputter, a growing movement is gaining steam at the subnational level as U.S. states and Canadian provinces adopt Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) programs to hold accountable the companies that put plastic packaging into the marketplace.
—Jeff Young, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Oct. 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 4 Nov. 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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