as in drooling
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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as in muttering
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Recent Examples of sputtering
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
Porous defense and sputtering rushing attacks.
—James Brizuela, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Aug. 2025
On an early episode of the show, Friedland opens with a wry, sputtering monologue.
—Brady Brickner-Wood, New Yorker, 13 Aug. 2025
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
With the Mets offense still sputtering and the bullpen taxed, Dodgers phenom Ohtani added insult to injury in the eighth inning.
—Jacob Lev, CNN, 17 Oct. 2024
Verb
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
Porous defense and sputtering rushing attacks.
—James Brizuela, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Aug. 2025
On an early episode of the show, Friedland opens with a wry, sputtering monologue.
—Brady Brickner-Wood, New Yorker, 13 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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
With the Mets offense still sputtering and the bullpen taxed, Dodgers phenom Ohtani added insult to injury in the eighth inning.
—Jacob Lev, CNN, 17 Oct. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sputtering
Verb
-
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
-
Symptoms may begin within minutes, which include heavy drooling—especially in cats—and redness on the skin and in or around the mouth.—
Liz O'Connell,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Great Again hats and T-shirts emblazoned with Kirk’s face, ignored the registration queries and continued chatting with friends.—
Karissa Waddick,
USA Today,
27 Sep. 2025
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Being less direct and formal can help prevent your kid putting a wall up — as can chatting during car rides since not being face-to-face can feel less intimidating for them.—
Kristen Rogers,
CNN Money,
26 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
With the job market faltering and new tariffs adding uncertainty to the economy, futures markets are pricing in as many as two additional cuts — totaling 75 basis points — by the end of the year, according to the CME FedWatch tool, which tracks investor expectations for Fed policy.—
Mike Winters,
CNBC,
17 Sep. 2025
-
Washington — The Federal Reserve on Wednesday lowered interest rates for the first time since December to support America’s faltering labor market.—
Bryan Mena,
CNN Money,
17 Sep. 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
-
This is stuttering, crashing and other issues, even on high-end hardware way above recommended specs, which is baffling some.—
Paul Tassi,
Forbes.com,
18 Sep. 2025
-
My connection often improved a few minutes later, but those drops could result in stuttering in games, hitches in streaming, and slow file downloads.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
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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
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He was also heard muttering expletives down the stretch, visibly battling the heat and pressure.—
Devlina Sarkar,
MSNBC Newsweek,
23 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Trump has repeatedly threatened to disband the pact — agreed during his first term — if Canada and Mexico, the US’ two biggest trading partners, fail to heed his demands, such as halting fentanyl flows to the US and curbing Chinese investment.—
semafor.com,
semafor.com,
22 Sep. 2025
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Since taking office in June, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has extended olive branches to the North, such as halting propaganda broadcasts into the North, but he has been repeatedly rebuffed.—
Anthony Kuhn,
NPR,
22 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Better to spend your time shouting out the writing that makes your heart sing.—
Maris Kreizman
September 25,
Literary Hub,
25 Sep. 2025
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Posts by the group to social media appear to show TSU students shouting at its members, filming them and following along as campus police escorted them off campus.—
Rachel Wegner,
Nashville Tennessean,
24 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sputtering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sputtering. Accessed 29 Sep. 2025.
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