as in shouts
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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Recent Examples of sputters
But for ordinary Americans, for those of us without fame, wealth, or connections, the machinery of justice often sputters.
—
Letters To The Editor,
Hartford Courant,
28 May 2026
This will be a close game while the Eagles offense sputters against the Seahawks defense, and the offense hears a few boos in the second half.
—
Zach Berman,
New York Times,
15 May 2026
The arc of the season sputters between big and little problems in a haphazard manner, with strange side quests for Simon and Trevor that are more head-scratching than adventurous.
—
Kelly Lawler,
USA Today,
27 Jan. 2026
That's why, for weeks, Browns fans, analysts, and even local radio hosts have pressed Cleveland to give Sanders more playing time as the offense sputters under Dillon Gabriel.
—
Rowan Fisher-Shotton,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 Nov. 2025
And can Justin Herbert rev up an offense that sputters in the red zone while likely missing LT Joe Alt to an ankle injury?
—
Greg Cote
october 2,
Miami Herald,
2 Oct. 2025
But where Cinema Slasher shines, Chilling Chambers sputters.
—
Brady MacDonald,
Oc Register,
19 Sep. 2025
Daboll says Wilson will get another start Sunday in Dallas, but if the offense sputters again, don’t be surprised if rookie Jaxson Dart gets the call.
—
Andy Scholes,
CNN Money,
11 Sep. 2025
While the climax sputters a bit, the rest is taut and engrossing.
—
Randy Myers,
Mercury News,
7 Aug. 2025
Letters To The Editor,
Hartford Courant,
28 May 2026
This will be a close game while the Eagles offense sputters against the Seahawks defense, and the offense hears a few boos in the second half.
—
Zach Berman,
New York Times,
15 May 2026
The arc of the season sputters between big and little problems in a haphazard manner, with strange side quests for Simon and Trevor that are more head-scratching than adventurous.
—
Kelly Lawler,
USA Today,
27 Jan. 2026
That's why, for weeks, Browns fans, analysts, and even local radio hosts have pressed Cleveland to give Sanders more playing time as the offense sputters under Dillon Gabriel.
—
Rowan Fisher-Shotton,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 Nov. 2025
And can Justin Herbert rev up an offense that sputters in the red zone while likely missing LT Joe Alt to an ankle injury?
—
Greg Cote
october 2,
Miami Herald,
2 Oct. 2025
But where Cinema Slasher shines, Chilling Chambers sputters.
—
Brady MacDonald,
Oc Register,
19 Sep. 2025
Daboll says Wilson will get another start Sunday in Dallas, but if the offense sputters again, don’t be surprised if rookie Jaxson Dart gets the call.
—
Andy Scholes,
CNN Money,
11 Sep. 2025
While the climax sputters a bit, the rest is taut and engrossing.
—
Randy Myers,
Mercury News,
7 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sputters
Verb
-
Zach Bryan shouts out the crowd on the London leg of his With Heaven on Tour on June 17.
-
Roaring and grunting, his body sleek with blood and sweat, Conan tussles and grapples with a series of opponents, dominating them all, while an audience of torch-wielding vulgarians shouts and howls at the pit’s lip.
Verb
-
Bill stutters an affirmative response that captures every man who has held out irrational hope that a woman will return to him.
-
Surprising melodic choices ride a chameleonic song structure that stutters and shrieks, bounces and raves with a fresh mix of Big Beat, UKG, breakbeats, and electro-pop sounds.
Verb
-
Your dad mutters for head movement, for cage cutting, for not playing off the back and creating distance.
Verb
-
As Silicon Valley’s artificial intelligence boom powers America’s economy, rattles its job market, and shapes its national security priorities, political leaders are struggling for traction on how the government should seek to engage the technology, if at all.
-
Israeli military warning rattles coastal city Israeli strikes over southern Lebanon continued, especially in and around the battered cities of Tyre and Nabatiyeh.
Verb
-
The teller babbles compulsively about past robberies, spilling details in a rush.
-
Esperanza speaks Spanish in a phone interview with NPR, while her 9-month-old baby coos and babbles in the background.
Verb
-
As Paula finally reaches Detective Gonzalez and excitedly chatters about her wire transfer ruse, the wry officer isn’t amused.
Verb
-
The father, Man, prattles on about mowing the lawn, painting the fence, and managing their orchard’s irrigation, while the son periodically falls off his chair from boredom.
Verb
-
Inside the motel, Paula chats with Sky.
-
The tool chats with job candidates, answers their questions about Chipotle, collects basic information, schedules interviews, and sends offer letters to candidates selected by hiring managers.
Cite this Entry
“Sputters.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sputters. Accessed 26 Jun. 2026.
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