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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of sputtered
Thomas Coughlin, Forbes.com, 21 Jan. 2026
Denver assembled with four minutes to play in regulation, down 27-23 after a true seesaw of a playoff game, its offense having once again sputtered to a halt in a season of fits and starts.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 17 Jan. 2026
David Peterson, an All-Star for the first time in July, sputtered over the season’s final six weeks.
—Tim Britton, New York Times, 16 Jan. 2026
Miami’s defense, its strength all season, didn’t break often but the Rebels were able to do enough throughout the game to keep it close and take a lead late when Miami’s offense sputtered.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 10 Jan. 2026
Plus, while the Philly offense has sputtered throughout the season, OT Lane Johnson, the key to it all, is returning.
—Hank Gola, New York Daily News, 9 Jan. 2026
The company of late had been negotiating a sale of its assets to DAZN, but those talks are said to have sputtered out.
—Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 9 Jan. 2026
The 49ers instead sputtered to a 13-3 defeat at the hands of the Seahawks, who finished the year 14-3.
—Michael McGough, Sacbee.com, 4 Jan. 2026
The three-time All-Star missed 14 games with a shoulder injury, and the Rangers sorely missed their top defenseman, going 6-6-2 in his absence while the power play sputtered without him.
—Ryan Canfield, FOXNews.com, 2 Jan. 2026
Verb
Cerabyte uses sputtered 10nm ceramic layers on a glass substrate.
—Thomas Coughlin, Forbes.com, 21 Jan. 2026
Denver assembled with four minutes to play in regulation, down 27-23 after a true seesaw of a playoff game, its offense having once again sputtered to a halt in a season of fits and starts.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 17 Jan. 2026
David Peterson, an All-Star for the first time in July, sputtered over the season’s final six weeks.
—Tim Britton, New York Times, 16 Jan. 2026
Miami’s defense, its strength all season, didn’t break often but the Rebels were able to do enough throughout the game to keep it close and take a lead late when Miami’s offense sputtered.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 10 Jan. 2026
Plus, while the Philly offense has sputtered throughout the season, OT Lane Johnson, the key to it all, is returning.
—Hank Gola, New York Daily News, 9 Jan. 2026
The company of late had been negotiating a sale of its assets to DAZN, but those talks are said to have sputtered out.
—Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 9 Jan. 2026
The 49ers instead sputtered to a 13-3 defeat at the hands of the Seahawks, who finished the year 14-3.
—Michael McGough, Sacbee.com, 4 Jan. 2026
The three-time All-Star missed 14 games with a shoulder injury, and the Rangers sorely missed their top defenseman, going 6-6-2 in his absence while the power play sputtered without him.
—Ryan Canfield, FOXNews.com, 2 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sputtered
Adjective
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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
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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
-
Our lives and bodies conversed and chattered.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
16 Dec. 2025
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Clancy then walked in from behind the stage, carrying a bouquet of flowers as the students chattered.—
Erin Clack,
PEOPLE,
10 Nov. 2025
Verb
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At Cafe Nido in East Hollywood, a few customers chatted with employees midday Thursday about the strike buzz.—
Jaweed Kaleem,
Los Angeles Times,
29 Jan. 2026
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The two sisters then chatted with Cheban on FaceTime, who answered from a dinner in Miami.—
Charna Flam,
PEOPLE,
22 Jan. 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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Beyond the acquisition drama, investors were rattled by Netflix’s forward guidance, said S&P Global’s Otto.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
31 Jan. 2026
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The situation was the latest test for officials in Austin, a liberal city where distrust of federal immigration agencies runs deep and residents have been rattled by recent events in Minneapolis.—
Emiliano Tahui Gómez,
Austin American Statesman,
27 Jan. 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 2 Feb. 2026.
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