sputtered; sputtering; sputters
1
: to spit or squirt from the mouth with explosive sounds
2
: to utter hastily or explosively in confusion or excitement
"that's ridiculous!" she sputtered
3
: to dislodge (atoms) from the surface of a material by collision with high energy particles
also
: to deposit (a metallic film) by such a process
1
: to spit or squirt particles of food or saliva noisily from the mouth
2
: to speak explosively or confusedly in anger or excitement
3
: to make explosive popping sounds
sputterer
noun
1
: confused and excited speech or discussion
2
: the act or sound of sputtering
Synonyms
Examples of sputter in a Sentence
Verb
The motor sputtered and died.
He was sputtering with rage.
She sputtered an angry protest.
“You, you have to be kidding!” he sputtered.
Recent Examples on the Web
Jonathan O’Callaghan, Discover Magazine, 21 Oct. 2024
And DeSantis, whose own presidential campaign sputtered this year, could make a second run.
—Tal Axelrod, ABC News, 10 Oct. 2024
Vincent Frank, Forbes, 12 Oct. 2024
Tóth is sustained by the momentum of the build, but feels the past nipping at his heels whenever construction sputters to a halt.
—David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 1 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for sputter 
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Verb
Scientists had speculated that either micrometeoroids were to blame or solar wind hitting the lunar surface transferred energy into particles and ejected them upward in a process called sputtering.
—Jonathan O’Callaghan, Discover Magazine, 21 Oct. 2024
And DeSantis, whose own presidential campaign sputtered this year, could make a second run.
—Tal Axelrod, ABC News, 10 Oct. 2024
Noun
Could this potentially lead to Fields getting the hook should the Steelers’ offense sputter out of the gate on Sunday?
—Vincent Frank, Forbes, 12 Oct. 2024
Tóth is sustained by the momentum of the build, but feels the past nipping at his heels whenever construction sputters to a halt.
—David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 1 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for sputter
Dictionary Entries Near sputter
Cite this Entry
“Sputter.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sputter. Accessed 25 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
sputter
1 of 2 verb
sput·ter
ˈspət-ər 
1
: to spit or squirt pieces of food or saliva noisily from the mouth
2
: to speak or utter hastily or explosively in confusion or excitement
sputtered out protests
3
: to make explosive popping sounds
the motor sputtered and died
sputterer
noun
-ər-ər
sputter
2 of 2 noun
: the act or sound of sputtering
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