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
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Recent Examples of sputter
But for truly gargantuan stars, the models often sputter out, unable to complete their lives in the simulation.
—
Paul Sutter, Space.com, 3 May 2026
While first-year coach Dan Muse — a finalist for the Jack Adams award as the NHL's Coach of the Year — won raves for his positivity and meticulous preparation, the league's third-highest scoring team also sputtered while falling into a 3-0 hole to the Flyers.
—CBS News, 2 May 2026
The museum’s original buildings, designed by William Pereira and completed in 1965, sputtered soon after opening.
—Bloomberg, 24 Apr. 2026
This year, the war in the Middle East has caused the global fuel and fertilizer trade to sputter, further squeezing farmers’ margins.
—Tristan Bove, Fortune, 21 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sputter
Paul Sutter, Space.com, 3 May 2026
While first-year coach Dan Muse — a finalist for the Jack Adams award as the NHL's Coach of the Year — won raves for his positivity and meticulous preparation, the league's third-highest scoring team also sputtered while falling into a 3-0 hole to the Flyers.
—CBS News, 2 May 2026
The museum’s original buildings, designed by William Pereira and completed in 1965, sputtered soon after opening.
—Bloomberg, 24 Apr. 2026
This year, the war in the Middle East has caused the global fuel and fertilizer trade to sputter, further squeezing farmers’ margins.
—Tristan Bove, Fortune, 21 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sputter
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sputter
Verb
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Chase Reid, meanwhile, just put together a better-than-point-per-game season in the OHL and has the loud tools — the escapability and skating speed in particular — that have NHL scouts positively drooling.—
Thomas Drance,
New York Times,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Predators respond with head shaking, gaping, drooling, and frantic licking.—
Ryan Brennan,
Kansas City Star,
13 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The Daily Telegraph newspaper reported that a man wearing a ski mask ran toward the former royal while shouting abuse on Wednesday.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
8 May 2026
-
The Daily Telegraph newspaper reported that a man wearing a ski mask ran toward the former royal while shouting abuse.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
8 May 2026
Verb
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The thickening afternoon light gave the square an air of drama, like a movie set readied for action, but there was no one around to cast as extras; chattering tourists fill it only during the brief summer high season.—
Kevin West,
Travel + Leisure,
8 May 2026
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There’s an amulet (one of those glowing doohickeys the fate of the cosmos hangs on), and your heart may sink every time someone starts chattering about it.—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
6 May 2026
Verb
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Across the game, the crowd raged with injustice and annoyance at a refereeing performance Bayern supporters will mutter about for years.—
Sebastian Stafford-Bloor,
New York Times,
7 May 2026
-
On Tuesday, cameras caught Dodgers catcher Dalton Rushing muttering something after looking back at the Giants’ Jung Hoo Lee, who was in discomfort after an awkward slide at home plate.—
Bill Shaikin,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Afterward, Keller stopped to chat with Alvarado at a sandwich shop.—
Rachel Monroe,
New Yorker,
14 May 2026
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Incognito chat mode has safety features to prevent the chatbot from answering questions about harmful topics, Cathcart said.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
13 May 2026
Verb
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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
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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
Verb
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That wobble left them rattled, and Arsenal have become pragmatic.—
Dean Jones,
New York Times,
13 May 2026
-
One struck close to McKinleyville on May 4, while the other rattled near Petrolia on May 10.—
CA Earthquake Bot,
Sacbee.com,
11 May 2026
Verb
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While speaking to local news outlet ABC 6, Lando's mother, Michelle, said her family hopes sharing his experience on social media will help increase awareness about stuttering among the general population.—
Toria Sheffield,
PEOPLE,
3 May 2026
-
My heart and probably yours stutters.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
1 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sputter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sputter. Accessed 14 May. 2026.
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