sputter

[ spuht-er ]

verb (used without object)

1. to make explosive popping or sizzling sounds.
2. to emit particles, sparks, etc., forcibly or explosively, especially accompanied by sputtering sounds.
3. to eject particles of saliva, food, etc., from the mouth in a light spray, as when speaking angrily or excitedly.
4. to utter or spit out words or sounds explosively or incoherently, as when angry or flustered.

verb (used with object)

1. to emit (anything) forcibly and in small particles, as if by spitting:

   The fire sputtered cinders.

2. to eject (saliva, food, etc.) in small particles explosively and involuntarily, as in excitement.
3. to utter explosively and incoherently.

noun

1. the act or sound of sputtering.
2. explosive, incoherent utterance.
3. matter ejected in sputtering.

sputter

/ ˈspʌtə /

verb

1. another word for splutter splutter splutter
2. physics
   1. to undergo or cause to undergo a process in which atoms of a solid are removed from its surface by the impact of high-energy ions, as in a discharge tube
   2. to coat (a film of a metal) onto (a solid surface) by using this process

noun

1. the process or noise of sputtering
2. incoherent stammering speech
3. something that is ejected while sputtering

Derived Forms

• ˈsputterer, noun

Other Words From

• sputter·er noun
• sputter·ing·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of sputter¹

1590–1600; sput- (variant of spout ) + -er ⁶; cognate with Dutch sputteren

Word History and Origins

Origin of sputter¹

C16: from Dutch sputteren, of imitative origin

Example Sentences

As a result, he dominated news coverage, looking bolder and badder than ever and leaving the Democrats looking like sputtering, defensive, fact-checking, umbrage-filled morality police.

From Salon

"A great deal of the anti-bureaucracy sentiment is associated with right-wing populism, which often sputters between anarchism and fascism."

From Salon

Asked about his plans to overhaul the Affordable Care Act, Trump sputtered lamely about “concepts of a plan.”

From Salon

US economic growth, which had been bouncing back from pandemic disruptions, sputtered.

From BBC

But their fortunes are not just explained by their companies successes - their rivals have made less in a year in which China's economy has sputtered.

From BBC

Related Words

• falter
• stammer
• stutter