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

But the sizzle soon turned into a fizzle.

From Barron's • Dec. 26, 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

People will leave talking about the ending, although it’s a bit of a fizzle — a tense shrug.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 12, 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 critical mass would not be achieved, and the bomb would fizzle.

From "Bomb" by Steve Sheinkin

Related Words

• abort
• misfire
• peter out
• wane