sputtered 1 of 2

adjective

as in shouted

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sputtered

2 of 2

verb

past tense of sputter
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

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
Verb
The Broncos got the ball back after stopping Herbert short, and the Chargers sputtered the rest of the way. — ABC News, 11 Oct. 2026 In the wake of a depressing 69-93 season that sputtered out from the get-go, as so many a Royals campaign does, the club promptly made some substantial changes. — Kansas City Star, 4 Oct. 2026 The real concerns came on offense, where the Trojans uncharacteristically sputtered. — Los Angeles Times, 4 Oct. 2026 The offense sputtered most of the night, totaling just 231 yards, including a career-low 119 passing yards and two interceptions by sophomore quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele. — Jeff Faraudo, Mercury News, 25 Sep. 2026 As the lethal dose of the sedative pentobarbital began flowing, Ramey took a deep breath, sputtered and began snoring. — Michael Graczyk, Arkansas Online, 24 Sep. 2026 As the pentobarbital took effect, Ramey took a deep breath, sputtered and began snoring. — James Cirrone, FOXNews.com, 24 Sep. 2026 But the Hurricanes’ offense sputtered through the second half, allowing the Demon Deacons to stay in the game. — Adam Lichtenstein, Sun Sentinel, 19 Sep. 2026 Bussi was sensational over the first half of the regular season, but sputtered after the Olympic break, which is why Frederik Andersen was Carolina’s starter for most of the playoffs. — Jesse Granger, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sputtered
  1. shouted
  2. drooled
  3. muttered
  4. chattered
  5. breathed
  6. chatted
  7. whispered
  8. rattled
Adjective
  • Now, the sequence is more likely to end in shouted abuse and maybe a scuffle, the video shot on phones and streamed — sometimes live — on platforms like Kick or Facebook.
    — Zoe Sottile, CNN Money, 3 Oct. 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
Definition of shouted
Verb
  • Who had broken a wrist on the back-yard flagstones, drooled cherry medicine down her sleeping face on the car ride back from the hospital.
    — Emma Cline, New Yorker, 9 Aug. 2026
  • For Valentine's Day 2026, the retailer released a confetti glass icon candle that shoppers drooled over.
    — Sophia Beams, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 June 2026
Definition of drooled
Adjective
  • Often made by anonymous rappers and producers with a monkish dedication to their craft, this isn’t rap for the live show but for the headphones, music where every muttered word and barely-there snare matters.
    — Alphonse Pierre, Pitchfork, 26 June 2026
Definition of muttered
Verb
  • Suspended in a pool, holding onto an oxygen mask as her teeth chattered, Julia Wolf began to seriously consider the possibility of hypothermia.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 12 Oct. 2026
  • Some raved about the experience to those in line while others chattered among themselves about their thoughts.
    — Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of chattered
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
Definition of breathed
Verb
  • Billboard chatted with October’s Hip-Hop Up & Comer, Noodah 05, about the origins of his name, why old-school R&B always has him in a chokehold, his desire to emulate André 3000, and his aspirations to become the new-age Thanos of rap.
    — Carl Lamarre, Billboard, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Authorities say Green has chatted with hundreds of young girls online.
    — Dan Raby, CBS News, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of chatted
Adjective
  • For many leaders, the phrase conjures up whispered alliances, opportunistic loyalty, self-interested maneuvering and the slow poisoning of organizational culture.
    — Harrison Monarth, Forbes.com, 31 May 2026
Definition of whispered
Verb
  • Netflix is obviously against the ropes again, after slowing user engagement on the service rattled Wall Street investors and layoffs came this week as a sacrifice to the share price.
    — Matt Donnelly, Variety, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Near daily protests rattled Vucic more than ever and protesters forced a government collapse as student rallies drew hundreds of thousands of people.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of rattled

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Cite this Entry

“Sputtered.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sputtered. Accessed 18 Oct. 2026.

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