sputter

verb

ˈspə-tər How to pronounce sputter (audio)
Definition of sputternext
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 As Messi roared, his long-term rival, Cristiano Ronaldo, sputtered. — Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 29 June 2026 The vacant plaza, including a former Stop & Shop and a former Bradlees discount store, was demolished in 2012, but progress on attracting new development sputtered in the years afterward. — Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 25 June 2026 Whereas the World Cup has long given way to the phenomenon of the English World Cup hype anthem (of these, New Order’s 1990 banger World in Motion is arguably the most listenable outside the context of the actual event), the tradition seems to have sputtered out. — Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 12 June 2026 If the passing game continues to sputter during training camp the Dolphins must consider adding more proven veteran receivers. — Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 12 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for sputter
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sputter
  1. drool
  2. shout
  3. chatter
  4. mutter
  5. chat
  6. gibber
  7. rattle
  8. stutter
Verb
  • The clearest early warning is heavy, frantic panting when a dog has not been exercising, along with drooling, red or dark gums, weakness or vomiting.
    — Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 9 July 2026
  • Isaacs said the symptoms of heat stress or heat stroke include excessive panting, drooling, vomiting, seizures or collapse.
    — Renee Anderson, CBS News, 1 July 2026
Definition of drool
Verb
  • In a country that often seems to shout for attention, Chicago simply gets on with the work of being a great city.
    — Rima Suqi, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 July 2026
  • Thornton, the only starter in double figures, shouted out the bench, which combined for 52 points.
    — Michael Nowels, Mercury News, 9 July 2026
Definition of shout
Verb
  • The youthful musicians chattered away like creatures of the Transylvanian night.
    — Alex Ross, New Yorker, 29 June 2026
  • That’s nothing more than a nonsensical, demonizing political narrative spewed by left-wing politicians and their brethren in the progressive chattering class.
    — Michael Zais, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 June 2026
Definition of chatter
Verb
  • Bat met ball and, under his breath, Astros manager Joe Espada muttered an expletive.
    — Chandler Rome, New York Times, 29 June 2026
  • In the shadows of the long-hut, the elders muttered among themselves—of portents and crops and weather and the storage of grain.
    — Maggie O’Farrell, Literary Hub, 2 June 2026
Definition of mutter
Verb
  • Some of the German Telegram chats date back to at least 2020, court documents show.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 8 July 2026
  • Within the venue gates but outside the stands, groups of friends were playing cornhole and having picnic dinners from food trucks parked onsite; older attendees were chatting and kids were kicking around mini soccer balls.
    — Jared Kaufman, Twin Cities, 7 July 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
  • High yields worldwide have been rattling investors since the war sent oil prices bursting above $100 per barrel in March.
    — Stan Choe, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2026
  • The hidden code that rattled Alibaba was built to help catch exactly this.
    — Harry Booth, Time, 7 July 2026
Definition of rattle
Verb
  • Cigarette butts littered the ground; a motorcycle stuttered past, too loud.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 13 July 2026
  • Despite such quality and depth, Portugal stuttered to the knockout stage with two draws and a single victory to finish second in Group K and set up a round-of-32 clash with Croatia.
    — Mark Carey, New York Times, 2 July 2026
Definition of stutter

Browse Nearby Words

sputa
sputter
sputtered
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Cite this Entry

“Sputter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sputter. Accessed 14 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of sputter for Spanish Speakers

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