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 But the problem is, Miami’s offense kept sputtering most of the game. — Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 4 Oct. 2026 The offense sputtered most of the night, totaling just 231 yards, including a career-low 119 passing yards and two interceptions by sophomore quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele. — Jeff Faraudo, Mercury News, 25 Sep. 2026 As the lethal dose of the sedative pentobarbital began flowing, Ramey took a deep breath, sputtered and began snoring. — Michael Graczyk, Arkansas Online, 24 Sep. 2026 As the pentobarbital took effect, Ramey took a deep breath, sputtered and began snoring. — James Cirrone, FOXNews.com, 24 Sep. 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
  • Mix these finds into your work wardrobe or your off-duty ensembles—they’re versatile enough to do it all, and the festive palette is worth drooling over.
    — Jake Henry Smith, Glamour, 7 Oct. 2026
  • There was one of Melissa Gorga’s sprinkle cookies ground into the carpet, and there was Kelsey Swanson, passed out under the piano and drooling on the parquet.
    — Brian Moylan, Vulture, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of drool
Verb
  • The interiors, meanwhile, never shout but still seem to wow with luxe Mediterranean touches and tasteful art.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Oct. 2026
  • News of their separation had been made public earlier this year when LaBeouf was arrested in New Orleans for two charges of simple battery where he was eventually given probation despite allegedly also harassing locals and shouting homophobic slurs.
    — Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of shout
Verb
  • Some raved about the experience to those in line while others chattered among themselves about their thoughts.
    — Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 1 Oct. 2026
  • As the courtroom cleared, a jumble of spectators and journalists chattered about the whiplash.
    — Nicki Brown, CNN Money, 6 Sep. 2026
Definition of chatter
Verb
  • The camera then cut to McCarthy, who muttered a profanity in response.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 6 Oct. 2026
  • Max Muncy, whose home run expanded the Dodgers’ lead, was still muttering about the heat nearly 15 minutes after escaping into air conditioning.
    — Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of mutter
Verb
  • Times columnists Gustavo Arellano, Steve Lopez and Lorraine Ali are chatting about Tuesday night’s Los Angeles mayoral debate between Mayor Karen Bass and Councilmember Nithya Raman.
    — Lorraine Ali, Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2026
  • The details of the allegations, which disclosed how fraternity members used a Snapchat group chat to discuss the woman and events at the party with openly crude language, sparked fury across the nation.
    — Elissa Nadworny, NPR, 13 Oct. 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
  • The attacks on airports, military facilities and oil infrastructure in Saudi Arabia, the world’s top oil exporter, has rattled markets and the region.
    — Samy Magdy, Fortune, 10 Oct. 2026
  • The attacks on Saudi Arabia, the world’s top oil exporter, have rattled markets and the region.
    — Samy Magdy, Los Angeles Times, 10 Oct. 2026
Definition of rattle
Verb
  • Set beneath a gorgeous sun at what may either be dawn or dusk, this sea occasionally stutters and reverses before continuing to roll all over again.
    — Alex Greenberger, ARTnews.com, 30 Sep. 2026
  • Some are painted with a stuttering distortion, like a computer image that’s failed to fully download.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 22 Sep. 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 Oct. 2026.

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