as in to drool
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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of sputter
But the machines have sputtered to a stop in recent weeks—and even finished garments lie in piles, unable to be shipped to American shoppers without incurring massive taxes that will enter into force on May 2.
—
Kate Nishimura, Sourcing Journal, 21 Apr. 2025
As the Trojans sputtered to a 7-6 record, and dealt with change at the quarterback position, Marks became their most consistent form of offense.
—Aaron Heisen, Oc Register, 21 Apr. 2025
Their offense continues to sputter and late issues with their bullpen cost them a game in the Bronx.
—Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 17 Apr. 2025
Meanwhile, their power play continued to sputter and wheeze, going 0 for 4 as part of a 2-for-34 funk.
—Andrew Knoll, Oc Register, 12 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sputter
Kate Nishimura, Sourcing Journal, 21 Apr. 2025
As the Trojans sputtered to a 7-6 record, and dealt with change at the quarterback position, Marks became their most consistent form of offense.
—Aaron Heisen, Oc Register, 21 Apr. 2025
Their offense continues to sputter and late issues with their bullpen cost them a game in the Bronx.
—Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 17 Apr. 2025
Meanwhile, their power play continued to sputter and wheeze, going 0 for 4 as part of a 2-for-34 funk.
—Andrew Knoll, Oc Register, 12 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sputter
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sputter
Verb
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Fair to say that the Ichiban has already accomplished its primary objective of getting moto nerds to drool over it on their phone screens – even though there is little likelihood that it will be built as it is envisioned.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
14 Feb. 2025
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Pay attention for signs of distress: panting, drooling, a high heart rate, dry nose, lethargy, or even vomiting, staggering or seizures.—
Kate Bradshaw,
The Mercury News,
3 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Although his team has been shouting into the void for decades, Teatini says that with ever-rising tide levels, those in authority are beginning to acknowledge that the MOSE barrier will work for around 40 years at the most.—
Julia Buckley,
CNN Money,
4 May 2025
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Bertie suddenly shouted, quite pleased with himself for managing to get a word out correctly.—
Lizz Schumer,
People.com,
3 May 2025
Verb
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There are no talking heads, just a succession of fleeting landscape images, overlaid with chattering voices and text, set to a thrumming soundtrack.—
Mustafah Abdulaziz,
New York Times,
26 Apr. 2025
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This ranges from the everyday meowing and purring; to yowling to indicate distress; chattering when spotting prey outside of its reach; and chirping to communicate with kittens, according to PetMD.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Apr. 2025
Verb
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He is made, late in the show, to feign a seizure in a moment that doesn’t land, and the blocking of his final scene, in which the actor mutters to the ceiling while lying on his back, similarly thuds.—
Daniel D'Addario,
Variety,
24 Mar. 2025
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Victoria barely muttered a word to Kate, who approached the Ratliffs during a meal, making the exchange extra awkward.—
Alli Rosenbloom,
CNN Money,
5 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Genie is one of the powerful platforms to chat with big data in a structured format.—
Kingsuk Chakrabarty,
Forbes.com,
1 May 2025
-
Let Mom have the final say on the lineup, and pause between movies to chat, snack, or take a stretch break. 14.—
Laura Broadwell,
Parents,
1 May 2025
Verb
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But when the disheveled, withdrawn ex-friend shows up in the locker room gibbering about an evil spirit, Sam is mortified, impulsively knocking to the ground the grungy-looking Mason jar that Tamira has been carrying around.—
Dennis Harvey,
Variety,
18 Sep. 2023
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For a while, police interest bent toward a Phud who had been warned he might be eliminated from the program, who had seemed almost exultant about the fire and gibbered gleefully about the media spotlight.—
New York Times,
New York Times,
13 Apr. 2018
Verb
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Trump's tariffs have also rattled consumers, who are increasingly gloomy about the economic outlook.—
Scott Horsley,
NPR,
2 May 2025
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How the stock market performed in recent presidents' first terms In 2020 as COVID-19 led to shutdowns and layoffs, rattled investors drove down the Dow Jones industrial average by more than 25% in less than two weeks.—
Jim Sergent,
USA Today,
1 May 2025
Verb
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But the overwhelming perception for the past two years has been that Watkins is in the ascendency and Rashford is stuttering.—
Zak Garner-Purkis,
Forbes.com,
20 Apr. 2025
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Even as Liverpool have spluttered and stuttered, Mikel Arteta’s side have doggedly refused to take advantage, declining to ignite the thing as a contest.—
Jack Lang,
New York Times,
19 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sputter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sputter. Accessed 11 May. 2025.
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