as in shouted
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as in drooled
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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Recent Examples of sputtered
Andrew Greif, NBC news, 24 Apr. 2026
Judge Dredd has two movies of varying quality, but attempts to follow the 2012 version with a TV show appear to have sputtered out.
—Jonathan M. Gitlin, ArsTechnica, 20 Apr. 2026
In 2025, Valanciunas was traded twice and finished the season with the Sacramento Kings, who sputtered in the Play-In.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 15 Apr. 2026
The Blue Jackets had sputtered along offensively for more than two weeks, scoring only 16 goals during a 2-7-1 tailspin that knocked them out of a playoff spot.
—Aaron Portzline, New York Times, 12 Apr. 2026
Melton sputtered in his previous five games.
—Ron Kroichick, San Francisco Chronicle, 8 Apr. 2026
On the bedside table, my phone sputtered awake.
—Shafiq Najib, ABC News, 7 Apr. 2026
The Celtics sputtered last weekend in the Marist Invitational, where junior outside hitter Omar Torreblanca suffered an ankle injury.
—Jeff Vorva, Chicago Tribune, 3 Apr. 2026
The Storm’s offense sputtered a bit the rest of the half, but the defense did its part, holding Columbus to a pair of field goals.
—Chris Hays, The Orlando Sentinel, 30 Mar. 2026
Verb
But Brown has seemed to often be frustrated by his role in the team’s offense, which continued last fall as his production dipped and the offense as a whole sputtered.
—Andrew Greif, NBC news, 24 Apr. 2026
Judge Dredd has two movies of varying quality, but attempts to follow the 2012 version with a TV show appear to have sputtered out.
—Jonathan M. Gitlin, ArsTechnica, 20 Apr. 2026
In 2025, Valanciunas was traded twice and finished the season with the Sacramento Kings, who sputtered in the Play-In.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 15 Apr. 2026
The Blue Jackets had sputtered along offensively for more than two weeks, scoring only 16 goals during a 2-7-1 tailspin that knocked them out of a playoff spot.
—Aaron Portzline, New York Times, 12 Apr. 2026
Melton sputtered in his previous five games.
—Ron Kroichick, San Francisco Chronicle, 8 Apr. 2026
On the bedside table, my phone sputtered awake.
—Shafiq Najib, ABC News, 7 Apr. 2026
The Celtics sputtered last weekend in the Marist Invitational, where junior outside hitter Omar Torreblanca suffered an ankle injury.
—Jeff Vorva, Chicago Tribune, 3 Apr. 2026
The Storm’s offense sputtered a bit the rest of the half, but the defense did its part, holding Columbus to a pair of field goals.
—Chris Hays, The Orlando Sentinel, 30 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sputtered
Adjective
-
This blend of styles is not only about presenting contrasts—clean versus shouted vocals, melodic versus dissonant riffs, headbanging versus moshing—but also preserving the murky in-between that only elevates the extreme.—
Sam Sodomsky,
Pitchfork,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Keong says these pillow protectors slide easily over her puffiest pillows, wash up well at the laundromat, and help prevent her new pillows from getting too drooled-on to be presentable for overnight guests.—
Nashia Baker,
Architectural Digest,
23 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The two lovebirds chattered on happily about the book.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
23 Apr. 2026
-
Clancy then walked in from behind the stage, carrying a bouquet of flowers as the students chattered.—
Erin Clack,
PEOPLE,
10 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
The teenagers chatted and laughed with each other, but the room became serious as practice began.—
Fousia Abdullahi,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
23 Apr. 2026
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One of us chatted with more than a dozen attendees at CPAC, the annual Republican conference.—
Nicholas Florko,
The Atlantic,
22 Apr. 2026
Verb
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As for one consistent complaint heard muttered amid bleary-eyed guests of the former Standard, Schrager confirms the appropriate adjustments have been made.—
Seth Abramovitch,
HollywoodReporter,
3 Nov. 2025
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But the other 3%, often muttered by students prospectively examining transfer applications, is distinct.—
Noah White,
Miami Herald,
30 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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His wraparound, tight-quarters assist on a Keshad Johnson dunk in the second half breathed fire into the lungs of the home crowd.—
Bryce Miller Columnist,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
19 Nov. 2021
Verb
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After being rattled into 19 turnovers in Game 2, Orlando played with pace without panic — exactly what coach Jamahl Mosley demanded.—
Mike Bianchi,
The Orlando Sentinel,
25 Apr. 2026
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DeepSeek, the Chinese AI startup that rattled Wall Street last year, has been at the center of such accusations.—
CNN.com Wire Service,
Mercury News,
24 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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No photograph could catch the smell drifting from the nearby military barracks and Indian camps; capture the murmured swirl of French, English, Arapaho, and Lakota; or let a viewer feel the colliding anxieties and expectations that hung heavy over negotiations like this.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
29 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sputtered.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sputtered. Accessed 27 Apr. 2026.
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