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Glite Dictionary
💥 To make popping sounds 😡 To speak unevenly 💦 To spit out 💥 Explosive sound 😡 Choppy speech 🔬 To coat with atoms
to sputter

to sputter

12 6.5
To speak in short angry bursts with spitting sounds
  • verb
  • /ˈspʌtər/
translation icon : balbucear
  • Staggered by the information thrown at her in such casual disregard, Katherine sputtered, "Treasure?"
  • sputter with rage
  • stop sputtering
  • sputter a bit

Examples

  • In my initial confusion, I almost sputtered out something about being able to make my own choices.

    Fiction book (1993)

  • Pointing a finger at first one, then the other, he sputtered, "You're her... her..." Damian acquiesced, "I am."

    Fiction book (1991)

  • "Oh," he sputtered, "then pull up along the circle and park at the White House."

    Academic text (2011)

  • "I'm prepared for her to snarl and sputter, but if it's done, what can she do?

    Fiction book (1994)

  • And my defender would get up there and sputter and mumble.

    Fiction book (1991)

  • " I don't know how else to be," he sputtered loudly.

    Fiction book (1993)

  • You're an embarrassment to the legal profession," Riddell sputtered at Hall in an exchange captured on videotape.

    Academic text (2011)

  • He began to sputter in frustration when he heard the unfair accusation.

  • As the teacher explained the topic, he would often sputter out answers, clearly excited.

  • When the engine stalled, it started to sputter before going silent.

Synonyms

to spit
vsto sputter
  • Informal
99 6.3

To say words quickly and angrily to show strong dislike

focuses on explosive vocal sounds rather than actions or gestures
to snarl
vsto sputter
21 5.8

To say something in an angry, sharp voice

involves explosive sounds rather than a sharp abrupt tone
to spit out
vsto sputter
  • Informal
15 4.4

To say words quickly and angrily to show dislike

has explosive sound quality rather than only forceful speech
to splutter
vsto sputter
4 7.5

To speak in short, broken sounds when angry or shocked

leans more toward anger or excitement than confusion

Antonyms

to speak clearly
7 1.0

Say words so other people can easily understand you

How Forceful

to shout
644 1.0
to sputter
12 6.5
to murmur
11 4.2
to whisper
586 1.0

Surface Forms

sputter infinitive
sputtered past
sputtered past participle
sputtering present participle
sputters third person singular

Etymology

Sputter comes from the sound of small spitting or popping and is related to spit and spatter. So when you sputter words you speak in quick, rough bursts, as if the words are being 'spat' out.