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
Ron Kroichick, San Francisco Chronicle, 8 Apr. 2026
On the bedside table, my phone sputtered awake.
—Shafiq Najib, ABC News, 7 Apr. 2026
The Celtics sputtered last weekend in the Marist Invitational, where junior outside hitter Omar Torreblanca suffered an ankle injury.
—Jeff Vorva, Chicago Tribune, 3 Apr. 2026
The Storm’s offense sputtered a bit the rest of the half, but the defense did its part, holding Columbus to a pair of field goals.
—Chris Hays, The Orlando Sentinel, 30 Mar. 2026
The Heat have sputtered of late with seven losses in the past nine games.
—Matthew Davis, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Mar. 2026
The Heat stand 4-3 when starting the lineup, one that was efficient in building an early lead at the outset of Wednesday night’s game, but one that also sputtered at the start of the second half, when all of that early lead was lost.
—Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 26 Mar. 2026
By contrast, Sondheim was consistently accessible and encouraging to younger composers and lyricists even as his own artistic output sputtered.
—Los Angeles Times, 17 Mar. 2026
Carter sputtered early but exploded in the second and third quarters to run away with a 67-41 win.
—Darren Lauber, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Mar. 2026
Verb
Melton sputtered in his previous five games.
—Ron Kroichick, San Francisco Chronicle, 8 Apr. 2026
On the bedside table, my phone sputtered awake.
—Shafiq Najib, ABC News, 7 Apr. 2026
The Celtics sputtered last weekend in the Marist Invitational, where junior outside hitter Omar Torreblanca suffered an ankle injury.
—Jeff Vorva, Chicago Tribune, 3 Apr. 2026
The Storm’s offense sputtered a bit the rest of the half, but the defense did its part, holding Columbus to a pair of field goals.
—Chris Hays, The Orlando Sentinel, 30 Mar. 2026
The Heat have sputtered of late with seven losses in the past nine games.
—Matthew Davis, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Mar. 2026
The Heat stand 4-3 when starting the lineup, one that was efficient in building an early lead at the outset of Wednesday night’s game, but one that also sputtered at the start of the second half, when all of that early lead was lost.
—Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 26 Mar. 2026
By contrast, Sondheim was consistently accessible and encouraging to younger composers and lyricists even as his own artistic output sputtered.
—Los Angeles Times, 17 Mar. 2026
Carter sputtered early but exploded in the second and third quarters to run away with a 67-41 win.
—Darren Lauber, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sputtered
Adjective
-
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
-
Clancy then walked in from behind the stage, carrying a bouquet of flowers as the students chattered.—
Erin Clack,
PEOPLE,
10 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Harry and William chatted with their grandparents and their aunt, Princess Anne, during the annual Trooping the Colour parade in London in June 2003.—
Kate Hogan,
PEOPLE,
9 Apr. 2026
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Rohan chatted with the women while the children darted around, sneaking looks at us and giggling.—
Elizabeth Cantrell,
Travel + Leisure,
7 Apr. 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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The prospect of a strong El Niño has rattled forecasters, who fear an unprecedented wave of global heat into 2027.—
Nicole Fallert,
USA Today,
10 Apr. 2026
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But some Republicans were also rattled by a Georgia special election, where their candidate to replace Marjorie Taylor Greene in Congress won by a much slimmer margin than the party enjoyed in the past.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
9 Apr. 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 13 Apr. 2026.
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