SPUTTER Synonyms: 40 Similar and Opposite Words

sputter

verb

ˈspə-tər

Definition of sputter

as in to drool

to speak rapidly, inarticulately, and usually unintelligibly she was so shocked that, for a moment, all she could do was sputter

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of sputter Miami’s offense, which lacks speed in the final third and relies more on possession and short passes, has also sputtered at times when opponents clog the passing lanes to Messi. — Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 11 Sep. 2026 Darnold was replaced by backup quarterback Drew Lock, and Seattle’s offense continued to sputter during the first half. — Andrew Greif, NBC news, 10 Sep. 2026 Then in the Super Bowl while New England's offense sputtered, Gonzalez did his best to keep the team in the game with several key pass breakups. — Matt Schooley, CBS News, 8 Sep. 2026 The producers’ suit appeared to sputter out in 2022, when a judge ruled that they were not cheated out of profits and that AMC had sued a standard definition. — Gene Maddaus, Variety, 8 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for sputter

Recent Examples of Synonyms for sputter

Verb

All three judges are basically drooling over how much pure quickstep content is in this routine despite some framework issues and the mistake at the end.

— Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 16 Sep. 2026
Toward the end of the film, that kid is grown up and stuck in an incestuous relationship with his mother, while a nearly incapacitated Dau sits drooling nearby.

— Jordan Mintzer, HollywoodReporter, 9 Sep. 2026

Definition of drool

Verb

Alonso threw his bat and shouted toward his teammates in the visiting dugout upon impact — an image Mets fans can instantly recall from his most famous long ball with New York in 2024’s wild-card series.

— Will Sammon, New York Times, 16 Sep. 2026
Emmys presenter and huge fan Marcello Hernández shouted out the newlyweds from the stage, saying hi to Zendaya.

— Leigh Blickley, Entertainment Weekly, 15 Sep. 2026

Definition of shout

Verb

The tourists mutter in disbelief before the driver of the bus heads down the street to the next haunted stop.

— Sonjirose Chin, Rolling Stone, 2 Sep. 2026
When John finally reunites with Hal (who charges the ring against the lantern while quickly muttering his oath), the frustrated protégé immediately confronts his teacher with all the suspicions he was meant to keep secret.

— Siddhant Adlakha, Vulture, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of mutter

Verb

These surrogates, mostly in their 20s and 30s, provide companionship rather than specialized medical care, visiting, chatting, helping clients set up smartphones or accompanying them to medical appointments.

— HUIYEE CHIEW AND LYRIC LI THE WASHINGTON POST, Arkansas Online, 16 Sep. 2026
Through Collect Originals, a user might one day find Tom Brady chatting with Chris Costa, co-founder of CardVault by Tom Brady, about the seven-time Super Bowl winner’s card and memorabilia collection.

— Larry Holder, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2026

Definition of chat

Verb

But when the disheveled, withdrawn ex-friend shows up in the locker room gibbering about an evil spirit, Sam is mortified, impulsively knocking to the ground the grungy-looking Mason jar that Tamira has been carrying around.

— Dennis Harvey, Variety, 18 Sep. 2023
For a while, police interest bent toward a Phud who had been warned he might be eliminated from the program, who had seemed almost exultant about the fire and gibbered gleefully about the media spotlight.

— New York Times, New York Times, 13 Apr. 2018

Definition of gibber

Verb

Paramount has threatened to leave Hollywood if the antitrust battle isn’t resolved soon — a prospect that has rattled state and local politicians fearful of losing more entertainment industry jobs.

— Meg James, Los Angeles Times, 20 Sep. 2026
Fears that Iran and its close ally, the Houthis, effectively control two of the world’s most important maritime choke points rattled global energy markets.

— Kareem Fahim, New Yorker, 19 Sep. 2026

Definition of rattle

Verb

As Fernandes undertook his trademark run-up, Tielemans mirrored him exactly, sidestepping and stuttering in synchronisation.

— Cerys Jones, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2026
Its fast 180-hertz refresh rate, paired with a 1ms response time, keeps on-screen action razor-sharp, and AMD FreeSync technology eliminates tearing and stuttering.

— Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 4 Sep. 2026

Definition of stutter

Browse Nearby Words

sputa

sputter

sputtered

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“Sputter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sputter. Accessed 23 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of sputter

verb

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