as in drooled
to speak rapidly, inarticulately, and usually unintelligibly
she was so shocked that, for a moment, all she could do was sputter
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in shouted
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
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 sputtered
Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 9 Sep. 2025
Their offense sputtered, managing only 218 total yards, while their defense was overwhelmed, giving up 586 total yards, including 386 through the air.
—Ben Verbrugge, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Sep. 2025
But efforts in Lansing to heed Whitmer's demand sputtered before the start of another school year.
—Clara Hendrickson, Freep.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Miami’s offense sputtered after that until the decisive final drive.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 1 Sep. 2025
High home prices and mortgage rates have created unaffordable conditions for many Americans, but the housing market’s ability to create more wealth has sputtered.
—Preston Fore, Fortune, 30 Aug. 2025
When, under Barack Obama’s Administration—which included officials more understanding of the Palestinian cause than ever before—the effort sputtered and stalled, President Abbas seemed to lose faith.
—Hussein Agha, New Yorker, 22 Aug. 2025
But once Wilson’s first-team offense sputtered, head coach Brian Daboll snuck Dart onto the field on the second play of the Giants’ fourth offensive drive.
—Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 17 Aug. 2025
Others sputtered forward in stiff, jerky motions.
—Drew Bernstein, Forbes.com, 14 Aug. 2025
Adjective
But the Bears’ offense, expected to be upgraded with Johnson’s play-calling in place given his success with the Detroit Lions, sputtered after that.
—Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 9 Sep. 2025
Their offense sputtered, managing only 218 total yards, while their defense was overwhelmed, giving up 586 total yards, including 386 through the air.
—Ben Verbrugge, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Sep. 2025
But efforts in Lansing to heed Whitmer's demand sputtered before the start of another school year.
—Clara Hendrickson, Freep.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Miami’s offense sputtered after that until the decisive final drive.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 1 Sep. 2025
High home prices and mortgage rates have created unaffordable conditions for many Americans, but the housing market’s ability to create more wealth has sputtered.
—Preston Fore, Fortune, 30 Aug. 2025
When, under Barack Obama’s Administration—which included officials more understanding of the Palestinian cause than ever before—the effort sputtered and stalled, President Abbas seemed to lose faith.
—Hussein Agha, New Yorker, 22 Aug. 2025
But once Wilson’s first-team offense sputtered, head coach Brian Daboll snuck Dart onto the field on the second play of the Giants’ fourth offensive drive.
—Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 17 Aug. 2025
Others sputtered forward in stiff, jerky motions.
—Drew Bernstein, Forbes.com, 14 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sputtered
Verb
-
At the WellChild Awards in London on Monday, May 8, Harry, 40, chatted with 13-year-old Grace Tutt, a Special Recognition winner who uses a wheelchair following a bus crash.—
Erin Hill,
People.com,
9 Sep. 2025
-
First slaying Prowell met with 51-year-old Miguel Angel King on July 20, 2021, after prosecutors say the men chatted over an online dating app.—
Daniella Segura,
Sacbee.com,
9 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
But the team stuttered against the Philadelphia Eagles and then against the Atlanta Falcons in weeks 3 and 4.—
Chelsea Brasted,
Axios,
4 Oct. 2024
Verb
-
The plane’s window shades remained closed for the entire flight, and a guard at the front of the plane shouted at anyone who spoke.—
Jonathan Blitzer,
New Yorker,
8 Sep. 2025
-
Michel Iluz, whose son Guy Iluz was killed while captive in Gaza, shouted into the microphone at the Jerusalem protest, the pain in his voice mounting to a howl.—
WAFAA SHURAFA,
Arkansas Online,
7 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
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
-
Although full disclosure, those two words were muttered in the press box Sunday after Nix had thrown two unsightly picks through the first three quarters of the Broncos’ win over Tennessee.—
Sean Keeler,
Denver Post,
7 Sep. 2025
-
There are few actors whose disembodied voices could carry long stretches of cinema, but Dafoe manages it, turning monologues about marionette mechanics or muttered complaints about hotel politics into something weirdly magnetic.—
Leila Latif,
IndieWire,
31 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Their journey takes a detour when her mom turns out to be a foul-mouthed truck driver, launching the trio into a cross-country odyssey filled with eccentric encounters, outrageous mishaps, and unexpected emotional revelations.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
8 Sep. 2025
-
The foul-mouthed Back To The Future parody duo has been airing on Adult Swim but the entire season is now out on HBO Max.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
6 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The video teases the emotional reunion between Noah and Nick after their devastating breakup, questioning whether the couple can survive their final race together after their fast-burning love affair reached a breaking point and screeched to a sudden halt.—
Veronica Villafañe,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
-
Langur monkeys screeched from the canopy above.—
Kate McMahon,
AFAR Media,
13 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Vic mumbled, coughing sleep from his throat.—
Bryan Washington,
New Yorker,
7 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sputtered.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sputtered. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share