verb / noun

splutter

SPLUT-er/ˈsplʌtər/

Speech or sound produced in short, explosive, interrupted bursts.

He splutters in disbelief when he sees the repair bill.

A surprised adult trying to speak while coughing slightly, tiny breath bursts shown as small abstract marks near mouth, no words or speech bubble.

Etymology

Splutter developed from a noun meaning noise, fuss, or confusion into a verb for hasty, confused speech. It may be a variant of sputter, whose explosive spitting sense would connect it with broken bursts of sound.

In context

Libranima244:01

The assistant superintendent was so furious that for the first minute he could only splutter inarticulately.

Crime and Punishment - Dostoevsky (Illustrated Audiobook) Part 1 of 2

More examples

The engine splutters for a moment, then stops.
She answers with an indignant splutter.
The old radio splutters between stations.

Forms

splutter · splutters · spluttered · spluttering

Similar words

sputter: Often emphasizes uneven mechanical operation rather than confused speech.
stammer: Emphasizes hesitant, repeated speech sounds rather than explosive bursts.