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 Most concerning to Slok is what happens if this gap grows as AI deployment and productivity gains continue to sputter. — Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 6 July 2026 With the Red Sox sputtering in last place in the AL East, the organization has bigger problems than Contreras. — Steve Buckley, New York Times, 2 July 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 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
  • 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
  • This golden lasagna is the perfect way to offer a vegetarian option that meat-eaters will be drooling over.
    — Better Homes & Gardens, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 June 2026
Definition of drool
Verb
  • One day while sitting on the porch, Sarah appeared out of nowhere, running towards them, shouting for them.
    — Hadley Hall Meares, Vanity Fair, 3 July 2026
  • The crew and the two witnesses said one of the three men got out with a dog and then moved aggressively towards the crew while shouting racial slurs targeted at the photographer.
    — Jeramie Bizzle, CBS News, 2 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
  • Serena’s name was on everyone’s lips, with fans chatting about the American’s chances and journalists jostling for position to get their hands on a reserved media seat.
    — Ben Church, CNN Money, 30 June 2026
  • Craig joined us to chat about his new show, his love for America, and his experience with becoming an American citizen.
    — Jesse Thorn, NPR, 30 June 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
  • Last night’s incident emotionally rattled you, but tensions will cool in the coming hours.
    — USA TODAY, USA Today, 2 July 2026
  • Tradition’s stubborn, and there’s still something primal about the boom and the body-rattling force of the real thing.
    — Robert J. Szczerba, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026
Definition of rattle
Verb
  • 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
  • What worked fine at home suddenly stutters and stalls on the road.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 30 June 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 7 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of sputter for Spanish Speakers

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