splutter

Meanwhile, one of the biggest surprises of this tournament has been to see the USA, so dominant and powerful over the years, splutter and stumble in the group stage.

From BBC ● Aug. 4, 2023

The conveyor belt was ready, the empty bottles were stacked and the machinery was about to splutter into life.

From New York Times ● Jul. 11, 2023

Some of those waiting in line stayed behind to splutter indignantly and argue their case, to no avail.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 18, 2023

Years of record-low rates have fuelled the tech stock rally but with those rates now rising again the appeal of stratospherically-valued tech stocks gets dimmer for investors, especially if their growth trajectories splutter.

From Reuters ● Feb. 21, 2022

To which the Talking Robot’s only response was an erratic splutter and an occasional incoherent sound.

From "I, Robot" by Isaac Asimov

“Words,” Jeffrey splutters to Khristen, “have enabled us to get no nearer to …” Then he trails off, stunned into silence by the inability of narrative to reckon with the world.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 7, 2021

He splutters, clears his throat and sits bolt upright.

From The Guardian ● Apr. 7, 2019

"Pops? I am only two years older than you," splutters Paterson.

From BBC ● Sep. 23, 2016

“Everyone is promoting themselves,” Mr. Ahmad splutters later.

From New York Times ● Aug. 6, 2016

She coughs and splutters as settlement men grab the boat to clamber on.

From "Without Refuge" by Jane Mitchell

But while Arsenal have spluttered with two wins from their last seven league games, City are heating up at just the right time.

From Barron's ● Feb. 21, 2026

Since no one knew who was watching what and when, watercooler chat and even many recap blogs spluttered out.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 11, 2025

While Celtic have spluttered, Rangers have motored since Philippe Clement took charge.

From BBC ● Dec. 29, 2023

Wyman hoped the local population would take proud ownership of the bee in order to protect it, too, but the conversations tailed off, the momentum spluttered, he says.

From Salon ● Mar. 31, 2022

There was little Clarice in a corner with some boy off the estate, she was smiling happily, squealing with delight as a squib spluttered at her feet.

From "Rebecca" by Daphne du Maurier

At a time when the UK economy has been spluttering along for some years, this place smells of growth, and it looks like growth too.

From BBC ● Feb. 14, 2026

A spluttering labor market looks to be strengthening, with unemployment dipping to 4.3% and workers’ wages rising.

From Barron's ● Feb. 12, 2026

But in their first game of 2026 they delivered a spluttering display that left them four points adrift of the Gunners.

From Barron's ● Jan. 1, 2026

Governments talk about spending more on defence, while most European economies are spluttering.

From BBC ● Jun. 4, 2025

He began spluttering and choking and spewing and hawking and acting generally like a man with some serious internal injury.

From "Boy: Tales of a Childhood" by Roald Dahl