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sputtery

sputtery

7.7
Making short, uneven popping sounds when it does not work well
  • adjective
  • /ˈspʌtəri/
translation icon : siseante
  • The engine made a sputtery noise as it struggled to start.

Examples

  • The old car made a sputtery sound as it struggled up the hill.

  • The candle burned with a sputtery flame in the drafty room.

  • Her voice was sputtery after she caught a cold and lost her breath.

  • I noticed a sputtery sound coming from the old radio.

  • The old car made a sputtery sound as it struggled up the hill.

  • The engine made a sputtery noise as it struggled to start.

  • I noticed a sputtery sound coming from the old radio.

Synonyms

crackly
vssputtery
1 3.9

Making small sharp sounds like dry things breaking or moving

is more about brief uneven pops from irregular or faulty operation
clicky
vssputtery
1 4.2

Making a clear clicking sound when pressed

describes uneven short popping sounds rather than one noticeable click
ratchety
vssputtery
9.1

Making harsh rattling noises and moving in a jerky way

is less harsh and focuses on short uneven popping sounds
clackety
vssputtery
7.4

Making quick, sharp clicking sounds like old train wheels

happens as uneven short bursts rather than steady quick series
rattly
vssputtery
3.5

A short repeated noise when small parts move, for example in old cars

is shorter and uneven, giving popping bursts rather than steady shaking
clickety
vssputtery
7.5

Making many quick clicking sounds

is instead uneven and brief, not a steady fast clicking pattern

Antonyms

304 2.0

Not changing over time and remaining the same

204 1.0

Moving or happening in an even, easy way without sudden problems

How Smooth

smooth
204 1.0
steady
304 2.0
choppy
7 5.0
sputtery
7.7
erratic
94 6.1

Surface Forms

sputtery positive

Morphology

sputtery = sputter (transparent) = sputter + y

The adjective is created by the standard suffix '-y' added to 'sputter', yielding 'characterized by sputtering' which directly maps to the described sound quality.

Etymology

Sputtery comes from sputter, a word that copies small popping or spitting sounds, and is related to spit, 'to force out quickly'. So a sputtery engine, candle, or voice makes short, uneven pops because it is working in a rough, irregular way.