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sputter

[spuht-er] / ˈspʌt ər /
VERB
stumble
Synonyms
Antonyms
STRONGEST


VERB
falter
Synonyms


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

But shortly thereafter the rally began to sputter, as the below chart shows.

From MarketWatch • May 27, 2026

Hopes had been high that the eurozone's traditional growth engine would sputter back to life in 2026 after years of stagnation, driven by Chancellor Friedrich Merz's public spending blitz.

From Barron's • Apr. 22, 2026

If an oil shock persisted long enough, economic growth could also sputter.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 24, 2026

But there are signs the engine is beginning to sputter.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 17, 2026

For an instant I stared; then I wheeled and started for the door, hearing him sputter, "Wait, wait," behind me.

From "Invisible Man" by Ralph Ellison




Vocabulary lists containing sputter


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