stuttering 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of stutteringnext
as in sputtering

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stuttering

2 of 2

verb

present participle of stutter
as in stammering
to speak with many involuntary pauses and repetitions I used to stutter when I was a child. She stutters when she gets excited.

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Dissimilar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of stuttering
Adjective
Windows Vista and its early WDDM woes had reduced my previously badass main PC with two Nvidia 7900GT cards in SLI to a stuttering BSOD-spitting mess, and the future of Microsoft OSes looked bleak—Windows 7 wouldn’t be along to change the situation for years. — Lee Hutchinson, ArsTechnica, 6 May 2026
Verb
It shouldn’t be forgotten that John battled stuttering early in his life as well. — Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 19 Aug. 2026 Strikes between the United States and Iran have been ongoing after a stuttering ceasefire. — Fernando Cervantes Jr, USA Today, 31 July 2026 Dog Days, a fusion of memoir, criticism, psychoanalysis, and even scientific theory, makes this stuttering sensation its structuring principle, as the book changes forms and perspectives, doubles back. — Literary Hub, 30 July 2026 The track — with its croaking guitar, cymbal smashes, and stuttering vocals — sounds nothing like Brat’s gleaming, clubby gems (or the bouncy pop-punk of her 2014 LP Sucker, for that matter). — Caryn Ganz, Rolling Stone, 23 July 2026 Since a stuttering start with a draw against Cape Verde, Spain have looked the most complete, most cohesive team at this tournament. — Oliver Kay, New York Times, 19 July 2026 Hardly ten more minutes had passed before Dembélé scored again—this time, cutting inside and stuttering his dribble and then, having befuddled the defense, rolling the ball right past it into an open corner of the goal. — Louisa Thomas, New Yorker, 27 June 2026 Stock gains themselves have also shown signs of stuttering after a nearly unprecedented run of gains in April and May. — Rob Wile, NBC news, 25 June 2026 Still, the many other actors involved—Israel, Hezbollah and others—means that there is a good chance that the deal will prove fragile, stuttering and maybe even falling apart. — Michael Lynch, Forbes.com, 12 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stuttering
  1. sputtering
  2. stammering
  3. faltering
  4. drooling
  5. mumbling
  6. shouting
  7. hesitant
  8. shrieking
Adjective
  • This season’s combination of a sputtering offense and a shaky bullpen – exposed again Sunday as the Brewers padded their lead in the late innings – is already way too stomach-churning for Dodger fans.
    — Jim Alexander, Oc Register, 17 Aug. 2026
  • Trump spoke now not only to distract from his sputtering Iran war and its effects on the economy, but also because his attempts to concretely interfere with the 2026 election thus far have almost all failed.
    — David A. Graham, The Atlantic, 17 July 2026
Definition of sputtering
Verb
  • After all, some in the party are still smarting about the 2008 presidential primary and more than a few are still stammering about the 2016 one.
    — Philip Elliott, Time, 3 Aug. 2026
  • Probst glides through his dialogue for the day in a single take, without stopping or even stammering.
    — David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2019
Definition of stammering
Adjective
  • The film spells out the gargantuan payouts that each Boeing CEO has received, despite the crashes and questions about their actions and the company’s faltering value.
    — Stuart Miller, Los Angeles Times, 19 Aug. 2026
  • In 2019 and again in 2020, the company launched a pair of spacecraft that latched onto faltering communication satellites and steered them, providing extra years of life.
    — Marcia Dunn, Fortune, 22 July 2026
Definition of faltering
Verb
  • Stuff like Caitlin Clark getting mugged with no foul being called, or Sophie Cunningham pointing at some obnoxious player, or ESPN drooling over a coach wearing a pro-trans shirt.
    — Zach Dean OutKick, FOXNews.com, 6 Aug. 2026
  • Video released by the Milwaukie Police Department shows Descamps sprawled in a hospital bed, his body limp, moaning and drooling, while medical staff stood nearby.
    — Brian Mann, NPR, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of drooling
Adjective
  • The stop-motion digital series about a jolly, mumbling, pint-size cook serves up a big slice of serotonin.
    — Sonal Dutt, PEOPLE, 24 Sep. 2025
Definition of mumbling
Verb
  • Visually, the entire set was stunning, with fast cuts of Nancy Whang pounding on her keyboard, Al Doyle whirring his synthesizer, and Murphy shouting into his microphone, wrapped around his arm.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 24 Aug. 2026
  • During a third-quarter timeout with Indiana leading 81-75, Cloud began shouting toward Freedom at courtside and Freedom responded, prompting security to escort the former NBA center from the arena as the Fever went on to pull away for a 113-90 win.
    — Alejandro Avila OutKick, FOXNews.com, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of shouting
Adjective
  • Determined to find her in real life, Ted talks a hesitant Lenny into joining him on a road trip to Clearwater Beach, Florida.
    — Derek Lawrence, Entertainment Weekly, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Determined to find her in real life, Ted talks a hesitant Lenny into joining him on a road trip to Clearwater Beach, FL.
    — Anthony D'Alessandro, Deadline, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of hesitant
Verb
  • The other customers cowered in the corners, while crowds formed at the windows outside, shrieking and recording the scene on their phones.
    — Robert F. Worth, The Atlantic, 10 July 2026
  • Kids are shrieking through their favorite splash pads, faces sticky with Bomb Pop juice and joy.
    — Mark Glende, Twin Cities, 2 July 2026
Definition of shrieking

Browse Nearby Words

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stuttering
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Cite this Entry

“Stuttering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stuttering. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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