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

However, the feel-good vibes fizzled down the stretch, as the Steelers lost the final four games of the regular season and the wild-card round of the playoffs. —Mike Defabo, The Athletic, 26 Feb. 2025

Bigelow’s producer Megan Ellison (third row, second from right) had her first nomination via her production company Annapurna Pictures, which would produce several Oscar contenders in the years to come before fizzling out in 2019 due to financial issues. —Zach Schonfeld, Vulture, 26 Feb. 2025

Noun

Taylor Swift watched the Kansas City Chiefs' hopes of a three-peat fizzle earlier this month when the Philadelphia Eagles steamrolled the Chiefs to win the 2025 Super Bowl. —Chantz Martin, Fox News, 27 Feb. 2025

Deal, No Deal While some deals soar and some fizzle, some never go through, ending in the wonderful world of what might have been. —Louis Biscotti, Forbes, 24 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

Rhymes for fizzle

• chisel
• drizzle
• grizzle
• sisal
• sizzle

Kids Definition

fizzle

verb

fiz·​zle

ˈfiz-əl

fizzled; fizzling

-(ə-)liŋ

: to fail after a good start

—often used with out

fizzle noun