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had stuttered

  • past perfect
    of stutter.
    stutter
    verb (used with or without object)
    to speak in such a way that the rhythm is interrupted by repetitions, blocks or spasms, or prolongations of sounds or syllables, sometimes accompanied by contortions of the face and body.

Example Sentences

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The Commission said progress towards major infrastructure objectives had stuttered over the last year "just as the need for acceleration has heightened".

From BBC ● Mar. 26, 2023

But England had stuttered since the 2019 World Cup in Japan, winning matches in prosaic style through 2020 before the wheels came off in the 2021 Six Nations, finishing fifth.

From BBC ● Dec. 24, 2021

Sweden’s economy had stuttered in the early 1990s after a financial crisis and its politics were in flux.

From The Guardian ● May 1, 2019

Hassli didn't score, coming off the bench, but his revived goalscoring form seems to have sparked confidence throughout the team in their goalscoring ability, which had stuttered for a little while there.

From The Guardian ● May 21, 2012

At the mention of bodily chastity, Lady Beddow from the other end of the table had stuttered a "tut, tut!"

From The Kingdom Round the Corner A Novel by Coningsby Dawson