as in muttering
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as in stuttering
to speak with many pauses and repetitions
He stammers when he's nervous.
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Recent Examples of stammering
Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 27 Sep. 2025
The stammering old man is trying to be a Tamburlaine.
—Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 8 Sep. 2025
David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2019
Adjective
Even characters like Lauren Domingue — sweet, stammering, fearful Lauren, who is not boring, and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise!
—Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 27 Sep. 2025
The stammering old man is trying to be a Tamburlaine.
—Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 8 Sep. 2025
Verb
Probst glides through his dialogue for the day in a single take, without stopping or even stammering.
—David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stammering
Verb
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Now, with oil price momentum showing signs of slowing amid stuttering peace negotiations, the quant models may now be cutting back on their exposures.—
Hugh Leask,
CNBC,
5 June 2026
-
Spraying forehands, service yips and stuttering footwork ensue.—
Charlotte Harpur,
New York Times,
3 June 2026
Verb
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Gilbert, now imprisoned at Clinton Correctional Facility in upstate New York, appeared gaunt and withdrawn during the interview, at times mumbling short responses before abruptly cutting the conversation short.—
Stepheny Price,
FOXNews.com,
27 May 2026
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McKellen can make a terrific meal out of just a few grunts and groans, spending whole scenes mumbling about nothing in particular; meanwhile, Coel comes across as impenetrable, yet alluringly so.—
David Sims,
The Atlantic,
10 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Their biggest bats were sputtering, too.—
Brendan Kuty,
New York Times,
24 May 2026
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This one required extra innings and undid a late surge by their sputtering offense.—
Matt Kawahara,
Houston Chronicle,
19 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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But now, as the public understands the consequences of a faltering democracy, more people are talking about it, Drutman said.—
Mary Ellen Klas,
Boston Herald,
1 June 2026
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The thing is, this presumption appears to be faltering.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2026
Adjective
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That means discussing communicable diseases — like many populations, the Amish, many of whom do vaccinate, have been increasingly hesitant since the Covid-19 pandemic — as well as genetic and other conditions.—
Torie Bosch,
STAT,
3 June 2026
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Even with the changes, some council members were hesitant to support the plan.—
Kendrick Calfee
June 3,
Kansas City Star,
3 June 2026
Adjective
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The series draws on archival footage, new interviews with former members, and extensive conversations with Richards to assemble a portrait of von Mierers’ hold on his followers and of Richards’ long, halting effort to understand his own role in it.—
JP Mangalindan,
Time,
1 June 2026
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Many things mark Kenneth as different, including a halting manner of speaking that sometimes seems like neurodiversity and other times like post-traumatic shock.—
Theater Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
29 May 2026
Adjective
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Simpson, butched up and closed off and vibrating with inarticulate pain, is superb in the part, and Jimenez’s rigid shoulders and frozen face are wrenching.—
Sara Holdren,
Vulture,
20 May 2026
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Yet masculinism also functions as a perpetual-motion machine of grievance, an inarticulate howl of anguish at the status quo—whatever that currently is.—
Helen Lewis,
The Atlantic,
14 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Stammering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stammering. Accessed 9 Jun. 2026.
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