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
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
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
-
Cunningham shouts to the entire congregation that the soul is not destroyed by death.—
Lincee Ray,
Entertainment Weekly,
13 Mar. 2026
-
Koy shouts, his excitement echoing in the stadium.—
Deputy Entertainment,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
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It's got 8GB RAM, which ensures multitasking never stutters, and its 13-inch Liquid Retina display is just exquisite to look at.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
22 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Your dad mutters for head movement, for cage cutting, for not playing off the back and creating distance.—
Matthew Shen Goodman,
Harpers Magazine,
19 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
But as Blue Owl’s stumble rattles the industry, its standing in Washington is also getting shakier.—
Eleanor Mueller,
semafor.com,
12 Mar. 2026
-
Diesel prices surged to an average of $5 per gallon in metro Atlanta on Wednesday as the ongoing war in the Middle East rattles the global market, the AJC’s Amy Wenk reports.—
Adam Beam,
AJC.com,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Race radio babbles away from the glove compartment, providing updates in Portuguese and English.—
Andy McGrath,
New York Times,
28 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
He’s best known at this point either for playing the clownish Jack on Will & Grace or for being the relatively serious one of the three celebrity chatters on his podcast, Smartless.—
Jackson McHenry,
Vulture,
13 Feb. 2026
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.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
12 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Honey Cooper chats with Professor Nader Gergis before attending his class on Wednesday.—
Cierra Morgan,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Mar. 2026
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Jarrett frequently appears in her videos, including sit-down Q&A chats the couple films together.—
Samantha Stutsman,
PEOPLE,
25 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sputters.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sputters. Accessed 19 Mar. 2026.
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