as in muttering
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as in chattering
to speak rapidly, inarticulately, and usually unintelligibly
she was so shocked that, for a moment, all she could do was sputter
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of sputtering
Brendan Kuty,
New York Times,
24 May 2026
This one required extra innings and undid a late surge by their sputtering offense.
—
Matt Kawahara,
Houston Chronicle,
19 Apr. 2026
Voters first approved the tax in 2020 but lowered it in 2024 amid San Francisco’s sputtering economic recovery.
—
Joe Garofoli,
San Francisco Chronicle,
8 Apr. 2026
In 2023, Authentic put the SI name on Lunatix, a sputtering ticket marketplace.
—
Los Angeles Times,
5 Apr. 2026
And, yet, at the same time football was sputtering, something else was building.
—
Mike Bianchi,
The Orlando Sentinel,
18 Mar. 2026
Drivers reported stalling, sputtering and newly illuminated check engine lights shortly after refueling their vehicles.
—
Elise Schmelzer,
Denver Post,
6 Mar. 2026
Other factors from rising natural gas prices to the explosion of data centers across the country are also responsible for breathing life back into the sputtering coal industry.
—
Simmone Shah,
Time,
3 Mar. 2026
In November, the Mavericks fired beleaguered general manager Nico Harrison — the prime target of fans’ ire — amid the Mavericks’ sputtering start and Doncic’s scorching early-season play in Los Angeles.
—
Eric Prisbell,
Dallas Morning News,
27 Feb. 2026
Aytekin Tank,
Forbes.com,
30 June 2026
When Vegas was sputtering in late March, with the 19th-best record in the NHL, the fact that its core was signed long-term with little cap space to maneuver could’ve been easily viewed as a detriment.
—
Jesse Granger,
New York Times,
15 June 2026
Their side hustle is sputtering toward some sort of finish line, the Saudi’s Public Investment Fund having pulled the cashflow that made LIV so appealing in the first place.
—
Dana O’Neil,
CNN Money,
14 May 2026
So, the Dodgers’ offense has been sputtering as of late.
—
Assistant Sports Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
4 May 2026
With the majority of their big-league starting lineup competing in the World Baseball Classic, the offense is sputtering big-time.
—
Gabrielle Starr,
Boston Herald,
6 Mar. 2026
After some false starts, a windfall came when David Geffen, the longtime contemporary art collector, made his historic pledge in 2017, injecting some excitement into a campaign that had been sputtering.
—
Nate Freeman,
Vanity Fair,
6 Mar. 2026
But what could have been a clever commentary on family dysfunction, success and the American way falls flat, only occasionally sputtering to life.
—
Cary Darling,
Houston Chronicle,
18 Feb. 2026
When the time came for Alan Cumming to cease deliberations, Michael was reduced to sputtering epithets in random sequences.
—
Joe Reid,
Vulture,
16 Jan. 2026
Adjective
Their biggest bats were sputtering, too.
—
Brendan Kuty,
New York Times,
24 May 2026
This one required extra innings and undid a late surge by their sputtering offense.
—
Matt Kawahara,
Houston Chronicle,
19 Apr. 2026
Voters first approved the tax in 2020 but lowered it in 2024 amid San Francisco’s sputtering economic recovery.
—
Joe Garofoli,
San Francisco Chronicle,
8 Apr. 2026
In 2023, Authentic put the SI name on Lunatix, a sputtering ticket marketplace.
—
Los Angeles Times,
5 Apr. 2026
And, yet, at the same time football was sputtering, something else was building.
—
Mike Bianchi,
The Orlando Sentinel,
18 Mar. 2026
Drivers reported stalling, sputtering and newly illuminated check engine lights shortly after refueling their vehicles.
—
Elise Schmelzer,
Denver Post,
6 Mar. 2026
Other factors from rising natural gas prices to the explosion of data centers across the country are also responsible for breathing life back into the sputtering coal industry.
—
Simmone Shah,
Time,
3 Mar. 2026
In November, the Mavericks fired beleaguered general manager Nico Harrison — the prime target of fans’ ire — amid the Mavericks’ sputtering start and Doncic’s scorching early-season play in Los Angeles.
—
Eric Prisbell,
Dallas Morning News,
27 Feb. 2026
Verb
Wrangling my emotions became the difference between sputtering to a halt and moving forward.
—
Aytekin Tank,
Forbes.com,
30 June 2026
When Vegas was sputtering in late March, with the 19th-best record in the NHL, the fact that its core was signed long-term with little cap space to maneuver could’ve been easily viewed as a detriment.
—
Jesse Granger,
New York Times,
15 June 2026
Their side hustle is sputtering toward some sort of finish line, the Saudi’s Public Investment Fund having pulled the cashflow that made LIV so appealing in the first place.
—
Dana O’Neil,
CNN Money,
14 May 2026
So, the Dodgers’ offense has been sputtering as of late.
—
Assistant Sports Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
4 May 2026
With the majority of their big-league starting lineup competing in the World Baseball Classic, the offense is sputtering big-time.
—
Gabrielle Starr,
Boston Herald,
6 Mar. 2026
After some false starts, a windfall came when David Geffen, the longtime contemporary art collector, made his historic pledge in 2017, injecting some excitement into a campaign that had been sputtering.
—
Nate Freeman,
Vanity Fair,
6 Mar. 2026
But what could have been a clever commentary on family dysfunction, success and the American way falls flat, only occasionally sputtering to life.
—
Cary Darling,
Houston Chronicle,
18 Feb. 2026
When the time came for Alan Cumming to cease deliberations, Michael was reduced to sputtering epithets in random sequences.
—
Joe Reid,
Vulture,
16 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sputtering
Adjective
-
However, despite a stellar rotation and lineup, a faltering bullpen could derail the Dodgers' World Series hopes, potentially leading to roster moves if performance doesn't improve.
-
Voters in the once-reliable Labor stronghold of Makerfield handed Burnham nearly 55% of the vote, rebuking both Starmer’s faltering government and surging right-wing challenger Reform UK.
Verb
-
That’s nothing more than a nonsensical, demonizing political narrative spewed by left-wing politicians and their brethren in the progressive chattering class.
-
Jean’s Beach at the Old Stove Pub The hush-hush purchase of the Old Stove Pub by Max Chodorow had everyone chattering for months.
Adjective
-
Windows Vista and its early WDDM woes had reduced my previously badass main PC with two Nvidia 7900GT cards in SLI to a stuttering BSOD-spitting mess, and the future of Microsoft OSes looked bleak—Windows 7 wouldn’t be along to change the situation for years.
Verb
-
But just to their left stood a horde of pro-transgender activists, some wearing costumes and others partially unclothed, shouting curse words.
-
An original call for service indicated that suspects pulled up to a CBS media vehicle and began shouting racial obscenities at a CBS cameraman who is Black, a law enforcement source said.
Adjective
-
The stop-motion digital series about a jolly, mumbling, pint-size cook serves up a big slice of serotonin.
Verb
-
Signs of heat stroke in dogs include heavy panting and drooling, being weak or lethargic, bright red gums and bloodshot eyes.
-
This golden lasagna is the perfect way to offer a vegetarian option that meat-eaters will be drooling over.
Adjective
-
Lowell’s halting effort came in a major anniversary year much like our own—a year of conflict, division, and disorientation.
-
All singing and moving in three-quarters time at the halting dawn of the 20th century.
Verb
-
Lena Dunham was spotted poking her head out of a backseat window and chatting with someone redirecting traffic, while her ex, a suited Jack Antonoff, and his sister, fashion designer Rachel Antonoff, were also seen walking up to MSG.
-
While chatting with the NFL brothers, Jason posed a tongue-in-cheek question to the Prince of Wales.
Cite this Entry
“Sputtering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sputtering. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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