fizzle

American  

[fiz-uhl] / ˈfɪz əl /

verb (used without object)

fizzled, fizzling

1. to make a hissing or sputtering sound, especially one that dies out weakly.

2. Informal. to fail ignominiously after a good start (often followed byout ).

   The reform movement fizzled out because of poor leadership.

   Synonyms:

   founder, collapse, miscarry

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noun

1. a fizzling, hissing, or sputtering.

2. Informal. a failure; fiasco.

fizzle British  

/ ˈfɪzəl /

verb

1. to make a hissing or bubbling sound

2. informal (often foll by out) to fail or die out, esp after a promising start

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noun

1. a hissing or bubbling sound; fizz

2. informal an outright failure; fiasco

Etymology

Origin of fizzle

1525–35; earlier fysel to break wind, frequentative of *fise < Old Norse fīsa to break wind; akin to feist

Example Sentences

A chipper melodicist who never attempted to disguise his sentimental streak, Sedaka emerged at the moment rock ’n’ roll’s initial big bang started to fizzle.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 27, 2026

If, for whatever reason, they can’t, a big part of demand will fizzle.

From Barron's • Dec. 31, 2025

Retail investors who understand these narratives may spot momentum earlier, but must also be prepared for abrupt reversals when the stories fizzle.

From MarketWatch • Dec. 2, 2025

The final act avoids sports-movie clichés, which is another way of saying that things simply fizzle out unsatisfyingly.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 2, 2025

A chain-reacting pile would be more efficient but still existed only in theory, for Fermi’s most recent prototype had produced less than one neutron per fission—a definite fizzle.

From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik

Related Words

• abort
• misfire
• peter out
• wane