as in muttering
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as in chattering
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 sputtering
Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 18 Mar. 2026
Drivers reported stalling, sputtering and newly illuminated check engine lights shortly after refueling their vehicles.
—Elise Schmelzer, Denver Post, 6 Mar. 2026
Other factors from rising natural gas prices to the explosion of data centers across the country are also responsible for breathing life back into the sputtering coal industry.
—Simmone Shah, Time, 3 Mar. 2026
In November, the Mavericks fired beleaguered general manager Nico Harrison — the prime target of fans’ ire — amid the Mavericks’ sputtering start and Doncic’s scorching early-season play in Los Angeles.
—Eric Prisbell, Dallas Morning News, 27 Feb. 2026
On a mission to turn around the governor’s sputtering presidential campaign, Uthmeier was asked about his boss’s performance in a Republican debate that had just ended.
—Dan Sullivan, Miami Herald, 19 Feb. 2026
Some signs that the carburetor is clogged on a snow blower are starting then dying a few seconds afterward, jerking, sputtering noises, and black smoke emitting from the exhaust.
—David Beaulieu, The Spruce, 1 Feb. 2026
Wait for the sputtering sound to subside.
—Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 24 Jan. 2026
The climate alarm machine—powered by the twin engines of moral panic and groupthink homogeneity—is sputtering.
—MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Dec. 2025
Los Angeles Times, 16 Mar. 2026
With the majority of their big-league starting lineup competing in the World Baseball Classic, the offense is sputtering big-time.
—Gabrielle Starr, Boston Herald, 6 Mar. 2026
After some false starts, a windfall came when David Geffen, the longtime contemporary art collector, made his historic pledge in 2017, injecting some excitement into a campaign that had been sputtering.
—Nate Freeman, Vanity Fair, 6 Mar. 2026
But what could have been a clever commentary on family dysfunction, success and the American way falls flat, only occasionally sputtering to life.
—Cary Darling, Houston Chronicle, 18 Feb. 2026
When the time came for Alan Cumming to cease deliberations, Michael was reduced to sputtering epithets in random sequences.
—Joe Reid, Vulture, 16 Jan. 2026
The only constant is Mount Etna, looming off to one side, at times sputtering out smoke, ash, and short bursts of lava.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Jan. 2026
After sputtering at the beginning of 2026, the economy grew rapidly in the middle two quarters and is on pace to accelerate at a 3% pace in the fourth quarter, according to preliminary data from the Atlanta Fed.
—Jeff Cox, CNBC, 3 Jan. 2026
The fact that Stockton had to keep doing that was a reflection of the offense around him sputtering.
—Seth Emerson, New York Times, 2 Jan. 2026
Adjective
And, yet, at the same time football was sputtering, something else was building.
—Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 18 Mar. 2026
Drivers reported stalling, sputtering and newly illuminated check engine lights shortly after refueling their vehicles.
—Elise Schmelzer, Denver Post, 6 Mar. 2026
Other factors from rising natural gas prices to the explosion of data centers across the country are also responsible for breathing life back into the sputtering coal industry.
—Simmone Shah, Time, 3 Mar. 2026
In November, the Mavericks fired beleaguered general manager Nico Harrison — the prime target of fans’ ire — amid the Mavericks’ sputtering start and Doncic’s scorching early-season play in Los Angeles.
—Eric Prisbell, Dallas Morning News, 27 Feb. 2026
On a mission to turn around the governor’s sputtering presidential campaign, Uthmeier was asked about his boss’s performance in a Republican debate that had just ended.
—Dan Sullivan, Miami Herald, 19 Feb. 2026
Some signs that the carburetor is clogged on a snow blower are starting then dying a few seconds afterward, jerking, sputtering noises, and black smoke emitting from the exhaust.
—David Beaulieu, The Spruce, 1 Feb. 2026
Wait for the sputtering sound to subside.
—Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 24 Jan. 2026
The climate alarm machine—powered by the twin engines of moral panic and groupthink homogeneity—is sputtering.
—MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Dec. 2025
Verb
With the June primary looming, Villaraigosa’s campaign risks sputtering out.
—Los Angeles Times, 16 Mar. 2026
With the majority of their big-league starting lineup competing in the World Baseball Classic, the offense is sputtering big-time.
—Gabrielle Starr, Boston Herald, 6 Mar. 2026
After some false starts, a windfall came when David Geffen, the longtime contemporary art collector, made his historic pledge in 2017, injecting some excitement into a campaign that had been sputtering.
—Nate Freeman, Vanity Fair, 6 Mar. 2026
But what could have been a clever commentary on family dysfunction, success and the American way falls flat, only occasionally sputtering to life.
—Cary Darling, Houston Chronicle, 18 Feb. 2026
When the time came for Alan Cumming to cease deliberations, Michael was reduced to sputtering epithets in random sequences.
—Joe Reid, Vulture, 16 Jan. 2026
The only constant is Mount Etna, looming off to one side, at times sputtering out smoke, ash, and short bursts of lava.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Jan. 2026
After sputtering at the beginning of 2026, the economy grew rapidly in the middle two quarters and is on pace to accelerate at a 3% pace in the fourth quarter, according to preliminary data from the Atlanta Fed.
—Jeff Cox, CNBC, 3 Jan. 2026
The fact that Stockton had to keep doing that was a reflection of the offense around him sputtering.
—Seth Emerson, New York Times, 2 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sputtering
Verb
-
Hardcore Survivor fans love to discuss and debate the intricacies of the game and their favorite seasons and winners in the same way that sports fans enjoy chattering nonstop about their teams.—
Dalton Ross,
Entertainment Weekly,
25 Feb. 2026
-
This is the shelter’s busiest season, making for the film’s most vibrant, chattering section, and Hélène adapts well to the rhythm and volume of whatever company rolls in, while occasionally retreating to the woods for some respite.—
Guy Lodge,
Variety,
22 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Last year Frederiksen’s Social Democrats were faltering.—
Lauren Kent,
CNN Money,
23 Mar. 2026
-
Afeela is entering the market at a time when federal support for EVs is low and public enthusiasm is faltering.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
An employee at the Xalapa vehicle impound lot, where the truck was taken, told The Associated Press that the trailer had been stopped about 28 miles southeast of the city and that hours after arriving at the lot, workers began to hear shouting and banging coming from inside.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
24 Mar. 2026
-
Quinlan is proud protesters have ignored MAGA supporters who have driven past, waving flags, honking horns and shouting insults during previous events.—
Steve Metsch,
Chicago Tribune,
23 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
These plants contain cardiac glycosides, which can cause unpleasant symptoms for dogs and cats alike, such as drooling, diarrhea, abdominal pain, abnormal heart rhythm, and even some neurologic signs.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
24 Mar. 2026
-
Chewing on the bulbs can cause severe vomiting and diarrhea, profuse drooling and burns to the mouth.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Miami Herald,
24 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
These limitations disappoint when other apps, such as Google Slides and PowerPoint, don’t limit collaborators and support chatting.—
Ruben Circelli,
PC Magazine,
28 Mar. 2026
-
Two-time Olympic gold medalist Alysa Liu returned the favor by presenting Swift with Artist of the Year; she was seen chatting with Swift and Kelce backstage.—
Alejandra Gularte,
Vulture,
27 Mar. 2026
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
-
Deteriorating asset quality, collateral markdowns and a growing rush for the exits are rattling private credit markets and prompting comparisons to the Global Financial Crisis.—
Hugh Leask,
CNBC,
25 Mar. 2026
-
Your next visit to California’s poppy fields may come with a rattling surprise.—
Jasmine Mendez
Follow,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Emirates has been trying to get its sprawling travel network up and running after several days of halting flights due to the war.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
7 Mar. 2026
-
Many pharmaceutical company executives, physicians, and patient advocates all recently took part in a Senate hearing on how FDA bureaucracy is halting innovation.—
Ian Thomas,
CNBC,
3 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sputtering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sputtering. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.
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