fizzle

1 of 2

verb

fiz·​zle ˈfi-zəl 

fizzled; fizzling ˈfi-zə-liŋ 

ˈfiz-liŋ

intransitive verb

1

: fizz

2

: to fail or end feebly especially after a promising start

—often used with out

fizzle

2 of 2

noun

: an abortive effort : failure

Synonyms

Verb

• fizz
• hiss
• sizzle
• swish
• whish
• whiz
• whizz

Noun

• collapse
• crash
• cropper
• defeat
• failure
• nonachievement
• nonsuccess

Examples of fizzle in a Sentence

Verb

oozing gobs of grease, a pair of fatty burgers fizzled on the grill

Noun

the home team's unexpected fizzle in that last game cost them the championship

the play was a fizzle, opening and closing the same night

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

The tech industry’s honeymoon period with the US government has fizzled, and both Trump and his successor, President Joe Biden, took a skeptical stance toward tech CEOs, albeit for different reasons. —Jess Weatherbed, The Verge, 16 Jan. 2025

Newsom handily beat the recall in 2021, and the latest attempt fizzled altogether and didn't even make ballot. —Michael Gfoeller and David H. Rundell, Newsweek, 15 Jan. 2025

Noun

But if the season fizzles on Saturday, maybe the Steelers have to consider other options. —Jeff Zrebiec, The Athletic, 10 Jan. 2025

When one dinner solution fizzles, there is always another, and another, which will be superseded by still more. —Rachel Sugar, The Atlantic, 6 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Verb

perhaps alteration of fist to break wind

First Known Use

Verb

1840, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1846, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

fizzle

verb

fiz·​zle

ˈfiz-əl

fizzled; fizzling

-(ə-)liŋ

: to fail after a good start

—often used with out

fizzle noun