splutter

Peaks stretch far into the distance and the volunteer delivery vans lumber and splutter over orange dirt roads, passing vertiginous drops.

From BBC ● Sep. 12, 2023

The story begins to splutter with some perfunctory, poorly executed scenes of Thor tagging along with the Guardians of the Galaxy, allowing Chris Pratt, David Bautista, Karen Gillan and others to cash a quick paycheck.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 5, 2022

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

In 2004, when Mount St. Helens began to cough and splutter in a concerning manner, Dr. Moran became wrapped up in a surfeit of tasks.

From New York Times ● Nov. 9, 2021

Dad listens when I tell him about Alicia, and about her dad and mom, and he doesn't shout or splutter or interrupt me or anything.

From "Things Not Seen" by Andrew Clements

A third splutters in a bathtub covered in dusky handprints.

From New York Times ● Jun. 29, 2023

“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

“I mean, just look again at these pairings!” splutters Dr Golf, who is on hand all afternoon to monitor your heart-rate, check your blood pressure and monitor your heart-rate.

From The Guardian ● Sep. 6, 2021

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

From BBC ● Sep. 23, 2016

Mom splutters something, and it's the man who answers. "... reports of lights on late at night... the missing boy's room."

From "Things Not Seen" by Andrew Clements

Until recently, the Cuban economy spluttered by on cheap supplies of Venezuelan oil.

From Barron's ● Jan. 30, 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

“They’re photographing them through several thicknesses of cheesecloth,” he spluttered.

From "A Confederacy of Dunces" by John Kennedy Toole

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

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

Manchester United condemned Liverpool to a fourth successive defeat as Harry Maguire's late goal sealed a 2-1 win over the spluttering Premier League champions on Sunday.

From Barron's ● Oct. 19, 2025

Its economy is already spluttering - last year it shrunk by 0.2%.

From BBC ● Jan. 20, 2025

He went into second gear, the engine spluttering and gasping, and he raced the engine, jamming the throttle down and snapping the choker in and out savagely.

From "The Sound and the Fury" by William Faulkner