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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of sputter
The order comes after TikTok abruptly shut down in the U.S. over the weekend, only to sputter back to life, based on assurances from Trump.
—
Daniel De Visé, USA TODAY, 21 Jan. 2025
Related Articles San Jose Sharks winger’s ironman streak to remain intact
Fabian Zetterlund up in the air, Jake Walman grounded as San Jose Sharks get ready to fly to Utah
The Sharks have sputtered on offense for over a month.
—Curtis Pashelka, The Mercury News, 10 Jan. 2025
Out of Water: Firefighters had spent hours battling out-of-control fires sweeping through the Pacific Palisades when their water lines started to sputter.
—Shawn Hubler, New York Times, 10 Jan. 2025
The Bears lost Brown’s first four games as head coach by an average score of 27-11 while the offense sputtered to an average of 252 yards during that span.
—Dan Wiederer, Chicago Tribune, 7 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for sputter 
Daniel De Visé, USA TODAY, 21 Jan. 2025
Related Articles San Jose Sharks winger’s ironman streak to remain intact
Fabian Zetterlund up in the air, Jake Walman grounded as San Jose Sharks get ready to fly to Utah
The Sharks have sputtered on offense for over a month.
—Curtis Pashelka, The Mercury News, 10 Jan. 2025
Out of Water: Firefighters had spent hours battling out-of-control fires sweeping through the Pacific Palisades when their water lines started to sputter.
—Shawn Hubler, New York Times, 10 Jan. 2025
The Bears lost Brown’s first four games as head coach by an average score of 27-11 while the offense sputtered to an average of 252 yards during that span.
—Dan Wiederer, Chicago Tribune, 7 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for sputter
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sputter
Verb
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In babies and toddlers, the first signs, such as drooling and scratching, may appear mild.—
Laura Dorwart,
Verywell Health,
7 Jan. 2025
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Public health officials are urging residents who may have fed their pets Monarch raw products or other raw meat or dairy products, and who may have noticed their pet acting peculiar — lethargic, loss of motor control, drooling, etc. — to immediately contact their veterinarian.—
Susanne Rust,
Los Angeles Times,
1 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Watch Goldberg shout for Haines to come down from The View tower in the video above.—
EW.com,
EW.com,
8 Feb. 2025
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As Robinson spoke, or tried to speak, Butler shouted from across the locker room to Robinson that Robinson didn’t have to talk, wasn’t required to do the interview.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
8 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
Sure, there are endless sources chattering to the tabloid that this was maybe an homage to one of West’s album covers or a master plan by West to troll the world and get attention, one that Censori cosigns.—
Stephanie McNeal,
Glamour,
3 Feb. 2025
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Carolina arrived and started chattering at you in Spanish.—
Kristen Baldwin,
EW.com,
28 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
The van pulled into the street, and the crowd followed, muttering lamentations.—
Jon Lee Anderson,
The New Yorker,
27 Jan. 2025
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That year an honorary degree was conferred on Jacques Derrida, and when somebody described him as the exponent of deconstruction theory, Brown relates, Prince Philip was overheard muttering that his own family seemed to be deconstructing pretty well.—
Geoffrey Wheatcroft,
New York Times,
18 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Sirianni went to lengths this season to maintain the harmonious atmosphere between he and Hurts, spending hours during their bye week midseason chatting together and trying to sort out whatever issues there might be.—
Ben Morse,
CNN,
8 Feb. 2025
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Throughout the flight, the two chatted about their families and jobs, and the situation seemed settled.—
Yaakov Katz,
Newsweek,
8 Feb. 2025
Verb
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But when the disheveled, withdrawn ex-friend shows up in the locker room gibbering about an evil spirit, Sam is mortified, impulsively knocking to the ground the grungy-looking Mason jar that Tamira has been carrying around.—
Dennis Harvey,
Variety,
18 Sep. 2023
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For a while, police interest bent toward a Phud who had been warned he might be eliminated from the program, who had seemed almost exultant about the fire and gibbered gleefully about the media spotlight.—
New York Times,
New York Times,
13 Apr. 2018
Verb
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Friday’s announcement of new potential tariffs that could hit all corners of the world rattled investors.—
David Goldman,
CNN,
7 Feb. 2025
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Also rattled was the faith of foreign governments in America’s steadfastness, which may not recover as long as Trump is in the White House.—
Michael Hiltzik,
Los Angeles Times,
4 Feb. 2025
Verb
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But performances have stuttered over the past couple of weeks.—
Sam Lee,
The Athletic,
5 Feb. 2025
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Growing up as a person who stutters really forced me to become comfortable being uncomfortable.—
Dalton Ross,
EW.com,
29 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near sputter
Cite this Entry
“Sputter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sputter. Accessed 16 Feb. 2025.
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