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
Matt Kawahara, Houston Chronicle, 19 Apr. 2026
If the Jets beat Philadelphia on Saturday, Winnipeg’s locker room is going to be filled with all kinds of belief that the once sputtering Jets can make the playoffs after all.
—Murat Ates, New York Times, 10 Apr. 2026
Voters first approved the tax in 2020 but lowered it in 2024 amid San Francisco’s sputtering economic recovery.
—Joe Garofoli, San Francisco Chronicle, 8 Apr. 2026
In 2023, Authentic put the SI name on Lunatix, a sputtering ticket marketplace.
—Los Angeles Times, 5 Apr. 2026
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
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
This one required extra innings and undid a late surge by their sputtering offense.
—Matt Kawahara, Houston Chronicle, 19 Apr. 2026
If the Jets beat Philadelphia on Saturday, Winnipeg’s locker room is going to be filled with all kinds of belief that the once sputtering Jets can make the playoffs after all.
—Murat Ates, New York Times, 10 Apr. 2026
Voters first approved the tax in 2020 but lowered it in 2024 amid San Francisco’s sputtering economic recovery.
—Joe Garofoli, San Francisco Chronicle, 8 Apr. 2026
In 2023, Authentic put the SI name on Lunatix, a sputtering ticket marketplace.
—Los Angeles Times, 5 Apr. 2026
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
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
-
The faltering fiction offered here certainly doesn’t justify 10 episodes, the runtimes of which range from about 35 minutes to nearly an hour.—
Tribune News Service,
Baltimore Sun,
7 Apr. 2026
-
Draghi’s report highlights several reasons why Europe’s competitiveness is faltering.—
Francesca Cassidy,
Fortune,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
While walking to her car, Penton was bombarded with insults from shouting supporters of Delgado-Garcia wearing green.—
Colleen Cronin,
Boston Herald,
15 Apr. 2026
-
Prosecutors said Castillo refused commands from officers to move away and was shouting at the agents.—
Brandon Downs,
CBS News,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Predators respond with head shaking, gaping, drooling, and frantic licking.—
Ryan Brennan,
Kansas City Star,
13 Apr. 2026
-
But Cremily won over teams and venues with a story worth drooling over.—
Sam Blum,
New York Times,
13 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The pair seemed to remain friends as they were spotted chatting at Justin Bieber's birthday party in 2022.—
Catherine Santino,
PEOPLE,
15 Apr. 2026
-
Catch him chatting with patrons and performing original music at the bar well into the night.—
Carley Rojas Avila,
Travel + Leisure,
15 Apr. 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
-
Fermin, who has taken mask-rattling shots fairly frequently this season, was joking and talking with teammates after the game.—
Kevin Acee,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
16 Apr. 2026
-
Saber rattling between the US and Cuba has reached a fever pitch following a US military operation in Caracas in January that captured Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, a staunch ally of the Cuban government.—
Patrick Oppmann,
CNN Money,
16 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Lebanese officials have pushed for a ceasefire, while Israel has framed the negotiations around Hezbollah’s disarmament and a potential peace deal, without publicly committing to halting hostilities or withdrawing its forces.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
14 Apr. 2026
-
Israel has framed the negotiations around Hezbollah’s disarmament and a potential peace deal, without publicly committing to halting hostilities or withdrawing its forces.—
Munir Ahmed,
Chicago Tribune,
14 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sputtering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sputtering. Accessed 21 Apr. 2026.
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