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
Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 22 Oct. 2025
The Patriots got out to a hot start running the ball but sputtered out in the red zone on their ensuing drive.
—Doug Kyed, Boston Herald, 19 Oct. 2025
Democrats' ballyhooed and famously expensive bid to unseat her in 2020 sputtered to an 8-point defeat in a state that President Joe Biden carried by 9 points.
—NPR, 14 Oct. 2025
Unpopular Peruvian president removed from office Peruvian lawmakers impeached President Dina Boluarte and removed her from power, ending an unpopular presidency during which crime rates soared and the economy sputtered.
—Ben Smith, semafor.com, 14 Oct. 2025
While the Rangers thoroughly dominated the Buffalo Sabres (4-0) and Pittsburgh Penguins (6-1) on the road, New York sputtered in their last outing, a 1-0 home loss to the Washington Capitals.
—MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Oct. 2025
San Francisco’s offense sputtered with Mac Jones starting a fourth game because of Brock Purdy’s Week 1 toe injury.
—Cam Inman, Mercury News, 13 Oct. 2025
When a loose puck sputtered away from Logan Thompson in a goal-mouth scramble, Schaefer dived in and poked it into the net.
—Peter Baugh, New York Times, 12 Oct. 2025
Rather than seize control of the game, the offense sputtered at the wrong time.
—Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 7 Oct. 2025
Verb
Miami’s defense collapsed in a 27-24 fourth-quarter loss to Carolina when the defense gave up a lead in the game’s final four minutes, and Miami’s offense sputtered on the final possession.
—Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 22 Oct. 2025
The Patriots got out to a hot start running the ball but sputtered out in the red zone on their ensuing drive.
—Doug Kyed, Boston Herald, 19 Oct. 2025
Democrats' ballyhooed and famously expensive bid to unseat her in 2020 sputtered to an 8-point defeat in a state that President Joe Biden carried by 9 points.
—NPR, 14 Oct. 2025
Unpopular Peruvian president removed from office Peruvian lawmakers impeached President Dina Boluarte and removed her from power, ending an unpopular presidency during which crime rates soared and the economy sputtered.
—Ben Smith, semafor.com, 14 Oct. 2025
While the Rangers thoroughly dominated the Buffalo Sabres (4-0) and Pittsburgh Penguins (6-1) on the road, New York sputtered in their last outing, a 1-0 home loss to the Washington Capitals.
—MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Oct. 2025
San Francisco’s offense sputtered with Mac Jones starting a fourth game because of Brock Purdy’s Week 1 toe injury.
—Cam Inman, Mercury News, 13 Oct. 2025
When a loose puck sputtered away from Logan Thompson in a goal-mouth scramble, Schaefer dived in and poked it into the net.
—Peter Baugh, New York Times, 12 Oct. 2025
Rather than seize control of the game, the offense sputtered at the wrong time.
—Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 7 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sputtered
Verb
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In addition to luxurious cashmere joggers and the Sneex shoes celebrities can’t stop wearing, Oprah shouted out a plushy Brooklinen robe and the Skims pajamas one writer can’t get enough of.—
Averi Baudler,
PEOPLE,
5 Nov. 2025
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Gunfire erupted moments later as officers shouted orders from behind cover.—
Greg Wehner,
FOXNews.com,
5 Nov. 2025
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
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Diners chattered away and ate at the restaurant while wedding guests gathered on the dance floor.—
Lauren Mascarenhas,
CNN Money,
22 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Some teenage girls in matching hoodies chatted near the baggage claim carousel, and a group in traditional Orthodox Jewish garb congregated on the curb outside terminal 3.—
N'dea Yancey-Bragg,
USA Today,
6 Nov. 2025
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Older students chatted with friends, while younger ones focused on pedaling.—
Emma Burleigh,
Fortune,
6 Nov. 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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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
Verb
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But the message has rattled producers and sales agents who rely on foreign subsidies, soft money and multi-territory deals to make budgets work.—
Scott Roxborough,
HollywoodReporter,
10 Nov. 2025
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At the same time, Paramount has rattled its sabre in the sector, nodding to a strategy of building up a streaming business executives hope will compete with Netflix, Google and Amazon.—
Brian Steinberg,
Variety,
10 Nov. 2025
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 12 Nov. 2025.
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