as in muttering
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as in drooling
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 sputtering
Michael Kugelman, NPR, 21 Dec. 2024
Those reports have unnerved British officials, who fear the tariffs could throttle the country’s already sputtering economic growth.
—Mark Landler, New York Times, 20 Dec. 2024
Kushner heaps flashback upon flashback; minor characters flare promisingly to life—a creepy uncle of Lucien’s, a disgruntled ex-Moulinard—before sputtering out, victims of their own inconsequence.
—Alexandra Schwartz, The New Yorker, 7 Oct. 2024
The Chinese economy is sputtering and the government is working on a stimulus package to boost the economy.
—Pamela N. Danziger, Forbes, 18 Oct. 2024
With the Mets offense still sputtering and the bullpen taxed, Dodgers phenom Ohtani added insult to injury in the eighth inning.
—Jacob Lev, CNN, 17 Oct. 2024
The fact that the Chargers have kept games close despite their sputtering offense is a testament to the defensive makeover under first-year coordinator Jesse Minter.
—Thuc Nhi Nguyen, Los Angeles Times, 7 Oct. 2024
Last week, the Chinese government announced several broad measures to boost its economy, which has been sputtering and looks unlikely to meet its government’s annual growth target.
—Megan Poinski, Forbes, 1 Oct. 2024
Verb
But if the reform process lags and if Bangladesh's sputtering economy doesn't improve, the public's patience could start to wear thin for an administration that for now enjoys ample support.
—Michael Kugelman, NPR, 21 Dec. 2024
Those reports have unnerved British officials, who fear the tariffs could throttle the country’s already sputtering economic growth.
—Mark Landler, New York Times, 20 Dec. 2024
Kushner heaps flashback upon flashback; minor characters flare promisingly to life—a creepy uncle of Lucien’s, a disgruntled ex-Moulinard—before sputtering out, victims of their own inconsequence.
—Alexandra Schwartz, The New Yorker, 7 Oct. 2024
The Chinese economy is sputtering and the government is working on a stimulus package to boost the economy.
—Pamela N. Danziger, Forbes, 18 Oct. 2024
With the Mets offense still sputtering and the bullpen taxed, Dodgers phenom Ohtani added insult to injury in the eighth inning.
—Jacob Lev, CNN, 17 Oct. 2024
The fact that the Chargers have kept games close despite their sputtering offense is a testament to the defensive makeover under first-year coordinator Jesse Minter.
—Thuc Nhi Nguyen, Los Angeles Times, 7 Oct. 2024
Last week, the Chinese government announced several broad measures to boost its economy, which has been sputtering and looks unlikely to meet its government’s annual growth target.
—Megan Poinski, Forbes, 1 Oct. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sputtering
Verb
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They were spotted smiling, chatting and generally enjoying themselves.—
Joseph Wilkinson,
New York Daily News,
7 Jan. 2025
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The Texan lookalike actually spent some time chatting with Powell, who gave Braunstein a hug immediately upon seeing him.—
Zoey Lyttle,
People.com,
6 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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The reformers worried that change was too halting, and that the Ottomans were falling behind the industrializing European nations.—
Charlie Tyson,
The New Yorker,
15 Mar. 2025
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The need to pressure-wash the entire interior would become but a minor inconvenience in a halting seven-year project that was filled with challenges before culminating in an elegantly modern interpretation of a historic property.—
Abby Montanez,
Robb Report,
23 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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But European governments remain hesitant about confiscating the capital.—
Joseph Ataman,
CNN,
21 Mar. 2025
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For those hesitant about sprinting due to fear of injury, here is a simple progression to help get started safely.—
Jesse Pines,
Forbes,
21 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sputtering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sputtering. Accessed 1 Apr. 2025.
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