as in to drool
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 sputter
If the passing game continues to sputter during training camp the Dolphins must consider adding more proven veteran receivers.
—
Omar Kelly,
Miami Herald,
12 June 2026
The tandem of Towns, Bridges and Hart started the matchup with much better percentages before the offense sputtered down the stretch of Game 3.
—
Fiifi Frimpong,
New York Daily News,
9 June 2026
The Royals’ offense has sputtered this year, scoring just 221 runs, the fewest in the majors.
—
Pete Grathoff,
Kansas City Star,
1 June 2026
In the end, despite the early promise and intrigue, The Boroughs is just another bland, unsatisfying Netflix Original series limping and sputtering to its foregone conclusion.
—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
27 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for sputter
Omar Kelly,
Miami Herald,
12 June 2026
The tandem of Towns, Bridges and Hart started the matchup with much better percentages before the offense sputtered down the stretch of Game 3.
—
Fiifi Frimpong,
New York Daily News,
9 June 2026
The Royals’ offense has sputtered this year, scoring just 221 runs, the fewest in the majors.
—
Pete Grathoff,
Kansas City Star,
1 June 2026
In the end, despite the early promise and intrigue, The Boroughs is just another bland, unsatisfying Netflix Original series limping and sputtering to its foregone conclusion.
—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
27 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for sputter
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sputter
Verb
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Isaacs said the symptoms of heat stress or heat stroke include excessive panting, drooling, vomiting, seizures or collapse.
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This golden lasagna is the perfect way to offer a vegetarian option that meat-eaters will be drooling over.
Verb
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One day while sitting on the porch, Sarah appeared out of nowhere, running towards them, shouting for them.
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The crew and the two witnesses said one of the three men got out with a dog and then moved aggressively towards the crew while shouting racial slurs targeted at the photographer.
Verb
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The youthful musicians chattered away like creatures of the Transylvanian night.
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That’s nothing more than a nonsensical, demonizing political narrative spewed by left-wing politicians and their brethren in the progressive chattering class.
Verb
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Bat met ball and, under his breath, Astros manager Joe Espada muttered an expletive.
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In the shadows of the long-hut, the elders muttered among themselves—of portents and crops and weather and the storage of grain.
Verb
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Serena’s name was on everyone’s lips, with fans chatting about the American’s chances and journalists jostling for position to get their hands on a reserved media seat.
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Craig joined us to chat about his new show, his love for America, and his experience with becoming an American citizen.
Verb
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Last night’s incident emotionally rattled you, but tensions will cool in the coming hours.
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Tradition’s stubborn, and there’s still something primal about the boom and the body-rattling force of the real thing.
Verb
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Hardly ten more minutes had passed before Dembélé scored again—this time, cutting inside and stuttering his dribble and then, having befuddled the defense, rolling the ball right past it into an open corner of the goal.
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Stock gains themselves have also shown signs of stuttering after a nearly unprecedented run of gains in April and May.
Verb
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There's one spot on Richard's land where the Guadalupe slows to a babbling brook at the base of a tree.
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In addition to canceling outside noise, the headphones provide crisp audio and relaxing white-noise options, including rainy parks and babbling brooks.
Cite this Entry
“Sputter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sputter. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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