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
Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 12 June 2026
The tandem of Towns, Bridges and Hart started the matchup with much better percentages before the offense sputtered down the stretch of Game 3.
—Fiifi Frimpong, New York Daily News, 9 June 2026
While secession sputtered, the Valley’s reactionary energy led to structural reforms at City Hall.
—Gary Baum, HollywoodReporter, 8 June 2026
The Royals’ offense has sputtered this year, scoring just 221 runs, the fewest in the majors.
—Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 1 June 2026
While Hernández found contact on each of his at-bats, the rest of the team sputtered through six innings.
—Liana Handler, Los Angeles Times, 26 May 2026
After scoring the first 15 points of the game, San Antonio sputtered, eventually falling 123-108.
—Jared Weiss, New York Times, 26 May 2026
After his presidential run sputtered out, Swalwell returned to his district and began interacting more with one of his junior staffers, who was 21 at the time.
—Allison Gordon, CNN Money, 4 May 2026
The speed with which slop and junk sputtered forth has experts worried that audiences may be growing jaded and apathetic in the face of clear distortions.
—Jane Lytvynenko, NBC news, 3 May 2026
Verb
Whereas the World Cup has long given way to the phenomenon of the English World Cup hype anthem (of these, New Order’s 1990 banger World in Motion is arguably the most listenable outside the context of the actual event), the tradition seems to have sputtered out.
—Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 12 June 2026
The tandem of Towns, Bridges and Hart started the matchup with much better percentages before the offense sputtered down the stretch of Game 3.
—Fiifi Frimpong, New York Daily News, 9 June 2026
While secession sputtered, the Valley’s reactionary energy led to structural reforms at City Hall.
—Gary Baum, HollywoodReporter, 8 June 2026
The Royals’ offense has sputtered this year, scoring just 221 runs, the fewest in the majors.
—Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 1 June 2026
While Hernández found contact on each of his at-bats, the rest of the team sputtered through six innings.
—Liana Handler, Los Angeles Times, 26 May 2026
After scoring the first 15 points of the game, San Antonio sputtered, eventually falling 123-108.
—Jared Weiss, New York Times, 26 May 2026
After his presidential run sputtered out, Swalwell returned to his district and began interacting more with one of his junior staffers, who was 21 at the time.
—Allison Gordon, CNN Money, 4 May 2026
The speed with which slop and junk sputtered forth has experts worried that audiences may be growing jaded and apathetic in the face of clear distortions.
—Jane Lytvynenko, NBC news, 3 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sputtered
Adjective
-
Beyond that single frame, there were no reporters, no statements, no spontaneous gaggle with shouted questions.—
Tal Shalev,
CNN Money,
12 Feb. 2026
-
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
-
His jaw wobbled unsteadily and a thin thread of spit drooled from the side of his mouth onto the counter.—
Hazlitt,
Hazlitt,
16 July 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
-
Clancy then walked in from behind the stage, carrying a bouquet of flowers as the students chattered.—
Erin Clack,
PEOPLE,
10 Nov. 2025
-
Diners chattered away and ate at the restaurant while wedding guests gathered on the dance floor.—
Lauren Mascarenhas,
CNN Money,
22 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
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
Verb
-
Witherspoon also chatted with her fellow volunteers and One Gen staff members, being her super friendly and charming self.—
Nashville Tennessean,
Nashville Tennessean,
11 Dec. 2025
-
McClain mostly chatted with Greene while Johnson spoke to Massie, though Greene and the speaker had a brief conversation before Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-MN) joined the conversation.—
Rachel Schilke,
The Washington Examiner,
10 Dec. 2025
Adjective
-
The Peacock series follows the ongoing adventures of the pot-smoking, foul-mouthed teddy bear Ted.—
Michael Schneider,
Variety,
16 June 2026
-
This is far from a family-friendly program, as McBride gives one the most profoundly foul-mouthed performances of all time.—
Jordan Hoffman,
Entertainment Weekly,
8 June 2026
Verb
-
In the shadows of the long-hut, the elders muttered among themselves—of portents and crops and weather and the storage of grain.—
Maggie O’Farrell,
Literary Hub,
2 June 2026
-
The Stromtroopers turned, muttered that there was nothing to see here, and walked away.—
Todd Martens,
Los Angeles Times,
5 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sputtered.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sputtered. Accessed 17 Jun. 2026.
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