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
Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 9 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
While first-year coach Dan Muse — a finalist for the Jack Adams award as the NHL's Coach of the Year — won raves for his positivity and meticulous preparation, the league's third-highest scoring team also sputtered while falling into a 3-0 hole to the Flyers.
—CBS News, 2 May 2026
The museum’s original buildings, designed by William Pereira and completed in 1965, sputtered soon after opening.
—Bloomberg, 24 Apr. 2026
Judge Dredd has two movies of varying quality, but attempts to follow the 2012 version with a TV show appear to have sputtered out.
—Jonathan M. Gitlin, ArsTechnica, 20 Apr. 2026
In 2025, Valanciunas was traded twice and finished the season with the Sacramento Kings, who sputtered in the Play-In.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 15 Apr. 2026
The Blue Jackets had sputtered along offensively for more than two weeks, scoring only 16 goals during a 2-7-1 tailspin that knocked them out of a playoff spot.
—Aaron Portzline, New York Times, 12 Apr. 2026
Verb
After Grant’s historic bomb in the third inning off Big Ten pitcher of the year Jordy Frahm gave UCLA a 2-0 lead, the Bruins’ (47-8) offense sputtered and Nebraska (46-6) rolled to a 7-2 victory.
—Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 9 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
While first-year coach Dan Muse — a finalist for the Jack Adams award as the NHL's Coach of the Year — won raves for his positivity and meticulous preparation, the league's third-highest scoring team also sputtered while falling into a 3-0 hole to the Flyers.
—CBS News, 2 May 2026
The museum’s original buildings, designed by William Pereira and completed in 1965, sputtered soon after opening.
—Bloomberg, 24 Apr. 2026
Judge Dredd has two movies of varying quality, but attempts to follow the 2012 version with a TV show appear to have sputtered out.
—Jonathan M. Gitlin, ArsTechnica, 20 Apr. 2026
In 2025, Valanciunas was traded twice and finished the season with the Sacramento Kings, who sputtered in the Play-In.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 15 Apr. 2026
The Blue Jackets had sputtered along offensively for more than two weeks, scoring only 16 goals during a 2-7-1 tailspin that knocked them out of a playoff spot.
—Aaron Portzline, New York Times, 12 Apr. 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
-
For years, college coaches and NBA scouts have drooled over the potential of Stokes, a likely 2027 lottery pick.—
Lindsay Schnell,
New York Times,
28 Apr. 2026
-
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
-
The two lovebirds chattered on happily about the book.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
23 Apr. 2026
-
Clancy then walked in from behind the stage, carrying a bouquet of flowers as the students chattered.—
Erin Clack,
PEOPLE,
10 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Seated at the table in front of José, brothers Juan, Richard, and Gabriel Zamora munched on chips and salsa and chatted.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
7 May 2026
-
Actors in period costumes looked over scripts and chatted with one another.—
Phaedra Trethan,
USA Today,
4 May 2026
Verb
-
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
-
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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On the next possession, Chen went back to the pick-and-roll again, this time getting into her defender’s body and elevating for a leaning runner that kissed the glass and rattled home.—
Nathan Canilao,
Mercury News,
9 May 2026
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Earlier in the week, a pair of quakes rattled the same area.—
Chelsea Hylton,
CBS News,
8 May 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 11 May. 2026.
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