as in drooling
to speak rapidly, inarticulately, and usually unintelligibly
she was so shocked that, for a moment, all she could do was sputter
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in muttering
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
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 sputtering
Alex Haddon, Twin Cities, 13 Oct. 2025
Then Waller held forth on the economy and the sputtering labor market.
—Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 10 Oct. 2025
So, too, is finding the right response to Americans’ sputtering adoption of electric vehicles, and a path to profitability for Ford Model e, the group’s loss-making EV division.
—Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, semafor.com, 3 Oct. 2025
As expected, the Lions defense played exceptionally well in the team's 34-10 win over Cleveland, forcing three turnovers and limiting a sputtering Browns offense to just 10 points.
—Christian Romo, Freep.com, 29 Sep. 2025
The San Francisco 49ers (3–0) come into this game looking to maintain their perfect record despite a sputtering ground game.
—Ben Verbrugge, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Sep. 2025
While things got too close for comfort at times, the Hurricanes played through raining conditions and a sputtering offensive performance to dispatch the Florida Gators 26-7.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 21 Sep. 2025
The difference there is that Keanu Reeves is unflappable, while Odenkirk has a sputtering quality to him that adds a comedic layer to his bloody lash-outs.
—Katie Rife, IndieWire, 9 Sep. 2025
On an early episode of the show, Friedland opens with a wry, sputtering monologue.
—Brady Brickner-Wood, New Yorker, 13 Aug. 2025
Teri Figueroa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Sep. 2025
But the extent to which its defense is sputtering may be a surprise.
—Robert Marvi, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Sep. 2025
Everything is sputtering now for the Mets, who haven’t drawn a walk since Wednesday.
—Tyler Kepner, New York Times, 13 Sep. 2025
His arrival home each night is announced by his sputtering motorcycle and his drunken stumbling up the stairs.
—Adam Solomons, IndieWire, 4 Sep. 2025
That this continues after years of California officials proposing law after law to rein in the industry leaves this scribe, and many others, sputtering with rage.
—Teri Sforza, Oc Register, 29 Aug. 2025
While the economy’s growth in the second quarter can be mostly attributed to trade swings and consumers, a look under the hood shows that underlying momentum is sputtering.
—Bryan Mena, CNN Money, 28 Aug. 2025
But if the reform process lags and if Bangladesh's sputtering economy doesn't improve, the public's patience could start to wear thin for an administration that for now enjoys ample support.
—Michael Kugelman, NPR, 21 Dec. 2024
The Chinese economy is sputtering and the government is working on a stimulus package to boost the economy.
—Pamela N. Danziger, Forbes, 18 Oct. 2024
Verb
Ingberg, 23, drove the sputtering car to Akeley, dropped it off at a mechanic and hopped in Hansen’s squad car for a ride back to his home in Wadena.
—Alex Haddon, Twin Cities, 13 Oct. 2025
Then Waller held forth on the economy and the sputtering labor market.
—Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 10 Oct. 2025
So, too, is finding the right response to Americans’ sputtering adoption of electric vehicles, and a path to profitability for Ford Model e, the group’s loss-making EV division.
—Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, semafor.com, 3 Oct. 2025
As expected, the Lions defense played exceptionally well in the team's 34-10 win over Cleveland, forcing three turnovers and limiting a sputtering Browns offense to just 10 points.
—Christian Romo, Freep.com, 29 Sep. 2025
The San Francisco 49ers (3–0) come into this game looking to maintain their perfect record despite a sputtering ground game.
—Ben Verbrugge, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Sep. 2025
While things got too close for comfort at times, the Hurricanes played through raining conditions and a sputtering offensive performance to dispatch the Florida Gators 26-7.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 21 Sep. 2025
The difference there is that Keanu Reeves is unflappable, while Odenkirk has a sputtering quality to him that adds a comedic layer to his bloody lash-outs.
—Katie Rife, IndieWire, 9 Sep. 2025
On an early episode of the show, Friedland opens with a wry, sputtering monologue.
—Brady Brickner-Wood, New Yorker, 13 Aug. 2025
Adjective
In August, a single-engine Piper PA-28 crash landed on southbound Interstate 805 in Sorrento Valley after the pilot noticed the engine was sputtering and losing power.
—Teri Figueroa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Sep. 2025
But the extent to which its defense is sputtering may be a surprise.
—Robert Marvi, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Sep. 2025
Everything is sputtering now for the Mets, who haven’t drawn a walk since Wednesday.
—Tyler Kepner, New York Times, 13 Sep. 2025
His arrival home each night is announced by his sputtering motorcycle and his drunken stumbling up the stairs.
—Adam Solomons, IndieWire, 4 Sep. 2025
That this continues after years of California officials proposing law after law to rein in the industry leaves this scribe, and many others, sputtering with rage.
—Teri Sforza, Oc Register, 29 Aug. 2025
While the economy’s growth in the second quarter can be mostly attributed to trade swings and consumers, a look under the hood shows that underlying momentum is sputtering.
—Bryan Mena, CNN Money, 28 Aug. 2025
But if the reform process lags and if Bangladesh's sputtering economy doesn't improve, the public's patience could start to wear thin for an administration that for now enjoys ample support.
—Michael Kugelman, NPR, 21 Dec. 2024
The Chinese economy is sputtering and the government is working on a stimulus package to boost the economy.
—Pamela N. Danziger, Forbes, 18 Oct. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sputtering
Verb
-
Well, then it’s being stolen right out from under its retracting proboscis, which is actually just another drooling head that lives in its mouth.—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
22 Sep. 2025
-
The most common symptoms of teething include drooling, putting fingers or fists in their mouth, swollen or puffy gums, difficulty sleeping, crankiness and fussiness, per the institution.—
Ryan Brennan,
Miami Herald,
19 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The pair love spending time together—often just chatting for hours.—
Lydia Patrick,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Oct. 2025
-
Parents can already set time limits on app use and see if their teenagers are chatting with AI characters, Meta said.—
Ashley Capoot,
CNBC,
17 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Waller, a key voice on the Fed’s policy-setting committee, made clear his current outlook is dominated by concerns about a faltering labor market.—
Eleanor Pringle,
Fortune,
10 Oct. 2025
-
Subsequent congressional investigations, post-campaign books, and news stories have only hardened public opinion that, with his mental acuity faltering and physical stamina limited, Biden should have stepped aside after a single term.—
David Mark,
The Washington Examiner,
3 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
After much chattering about the status of the Oscar winner’s seemingly clean-cut visage in the lead-up to the film’s premiere at the Venice Film Festival, once the camera (actually, four cameras) train themselves on Stone’s noggin during the film’s first act, there’s no doubt.—
Kate Erbland,
IndieWire,
5 Sep. 2025
-
This obviously includes scoring a reservation at Oreade, where Bacciottini turns to the land and tradition for the menu—and enjoying quiet mornings where breakfast looks out to Tuscany’s famous rolling hills, with birds and cicadas chattering in the background.—
Jenn Rice,
Forbes.com,
2 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The Lions fall to 4-2 with the defeat while the Chiefs continue to correct their stuttering start to the year by improving to 3-3.—
Ben Morse,
CNN Money,
13 Oct. 2025
-
His good form last season coincided with a long injury-free run, so a stuttering start to this campaign is unfortunate.—
Jacob Tanswell,
New York Times,
8 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
The stop-motion digital series about a jolly, mumbling, pint-size cook serves up a big slice of serotonin.—
Sonal Dutt,
PEOPLE,
24 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
My husband has been muttering in a loop about tuition, books, food, and transportation to and from home to campus.—
Melissa Willets,
Parents,
15 Sep. 2025
-
He was also heard muttering expletives down the stretch, visibly battling the heat and pressure.—
Devlina Sarkar,
MSNBC Newsweek,
23 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
If Max goes down because an update is buggy, servers break, or someone launches a cyberattack, the app could be offline for some period—in this case, potentially halting millions of bank payments, messages, and identity-verification attempts through the app.—
Justin Sherman,
The Atlantic,
11 Oct. 2025
-
As the halting demonstration of towel folding during TIME’s August visit showed, the challenges remain very real.—
Billy Perrigo,
Time,
9 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sputtering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sputtering. Accessed 19 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share