Sputtered

The past tense of 'sputter,' meaning to emit small explosions or bursts of something, often irregular or noisy. This can refer to a physical action, like an engine or a flame, or a verbal one, like speaking with difficulty or incoherently. It implies a lack of smooth or continuous flow. Figuratively, 'sputtered' can describe an unstable or faltering performance, reaction, or process. It suggests a struggling, inconsistent effort to produce something or to express oneself. The sputtering action highlights a breakdown or obstruction of the expected output.

Sputtered meaning with examples

• The old car's engine sputtered and coughed, refusing to start despite several attempts. Its weak start made us believe we might be walking today. The mechanic eventually found a problem with the fuel line. The engine then roared back to life after the repairs were finished, and drove with no problem.
• During the debate, the candidate sputtered his response, struggling to articulate his position amidst interruptions from the audience. Many of us felt his weak points showed. He lost his train of thought when someone shouted, and was unable to recover what he had planned.
• The welding torch sputtered inconsistently, creating uneven welds and hindering the construction project's progress. There were several holes and weak points in the joint due to the torch failing to work. This delay affected the project, and required all to work through the night.
• When confronted with the evidence, the suspect sputtered a string of denials, his voice cracking with nerves. He did not speak clearly, and his actions said more than his words. The detectives immediately became suspicious because of this behavior.