Advertisement

Advertisement

View synonyms for stutter

stutter

[ stuht-er ]

verb (used with or without object)

  1. to speak in such a way that the rhythm is interrupted by repetitions, blocks or spasms, or prolongations of sounds or syllables, sometimes accompanied by contortions of the face and body.


noun

  1. disordered speech production characterized principally by blocks or spasms interrupting the rhythm.

stutter

/ ˈstʌtə /

verb

  1. to speak (a word, phrase, etc) with recurring repetition of consonants, esp initial ones
  2. to make (an abrupt sound) repeatedly

    the gun stuttered

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

noun

  1. the act or habit of stuttering
  2. a stuttering sound
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

stutter

/ stŭtər /

  1. A speech disorder characterized by spasmodic repetition of the initial consonant or syllable of words and frequent pauses or prolongation of sounds.
Discover More

Derived Forms

  • ˈstutteringly, adverb
  • ˈstuttering, nounadjective
  • ˈstutterer, noun
Discover More

Other Words From

  • stut·ter·er noun
  • stut·ter·ing·ly adverb
  • un·stut·tered adjective
  • un·stut·ter·ing adjective
Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of stutter1

First recorded in 1520–30; earlier stut ( Middle English stutten “to stutter”) + -er 6; compare Dutch stotteren, Middle Low German stotern in the same sense
Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of stutter1

C16: related to Middle Low German stötern, Old High German stōzan to push against, Latin tundere to beat
Discover More

Synonym Study

See stammer.
Discover More

Example Sentences

Standing before TV cameras, Trump shuddered and stuttered, as if afflicted with palsy, making fun of the journalist whose articles he disliked.

Biden, who has always had a stutter, has clearly lost an additional step in his rhetorical powers in recent years.

“Yet, when I became another character, in a play, I lost the stutter. It was phenomenal.”

Saturday was also the defending champions' first outing and they suffered a stutter of their own, losing four wickets while chasing just 94.

From BBC

Opener Sarah Bryce kept her side in the game with 49 not out but struggled for support as the middle order stuttered under the pressure of a chase.

From BBC

Advertisement

Related Words

Discover More

About This Word

What does stutter mean?

Stutter is to speak in a way in which the flow of speech is interrupted by repetitions, blocks, or prolonged sounds, as in He became so nervous that he started to stutter.

Stutter also refers to this distortion of speech, as in My uncle was talking to the man with a stutter.

The most commonly known form of stuttering is repetitions, either of partial words, as in I n-n-n-need water, or entire words, as in My-my-my back hurts.

Two other forms of stuttering include prolonged sounds or syllables, as in Sssssshe is nice to me or blocks, which are stops when a person is struggling to get a word out.

The word stammer is often used as a synonym for stutter, especially to describe temporary breaks in speech. However, stutter describes a wider range of speech distortions.

Example: The girl hated speaking in front of the class because her shyness made her stutter and repeat her words.

Where does stutter come from?

The first records of stutter come from around 1520. It comes from the Middle English stut.

When someone is said to have “a stutter,” this usually means the person’s speech pattern has frequent distortions. Especially in adults, this speech pattern has biological causes behind it and is often difficult or impossible to stop if it wasn’t treated as a child. A stutter does not indicate a lack of intelligence or thought.

Did you know ... ?

What are some other forms related to stutter?

  • stutterer (noun)
  • stuttering (noun, adjective)
  • stutteringly (adverb)
  • unstuttered (adjective)
  • unstuttering (adjective)

What are some synonyms for stutter?

What are some words that often get used in discussing stutter?

How is stutter used in real life?

Many people stutter sometimes because they are nervous, but a stutter can also be a lifelong speaking disorder.

 

 

Try using stutter!

Which of the following words is a synonym of stutter?

A. whisper
B. stammer
C. shout
D. cough

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement


stushieStuttgart