fizzle
Americanverb (used without object)
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fizzles,
present (3rd person singular)
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fizzled,
past participle, past
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fizzling
present participle
noun
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a fizzling, hissing, or sputtering.
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Informal. a failure; fiasco.
verb
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to make a hissing or bubbling sound
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informal (often foll by out) to fail or die out, esp after a promising start
noun
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a hissing or bubbling sound; fizz
-
informal an outright failure; fiasco
Other Word Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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fizzlesimple
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fizzlessimple
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have fizzledperfect
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has fizzledperfect
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am fizzlingprogressive
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are fizzlingprogressive
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is fizzlingprogressive
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have been fizzlingperfect progressive
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has been fizzlingperfect progressive
Past
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fizzledsimple
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had fizzledperfect
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was fizzlingprogressive
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were fizzlingprogressive
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had been fizzlingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of fizzle
1525–35; earlier fysel to break wind, frequentative of *fise < Old Norse fīsa to break wind; akin to feist
Explanation
When something fizzles, it ends in a slow, sad way. Your bake sale may get off to a great start, only to fizzle once you've sold all the brownies and are left with nothing but oatmeal raisin cookies. The word fizzle has two uses — first, for talking about a failure or disappointment. Your party is a fizzle if no one shows up, and your cheerfulness is bound to fizzle after an experience like that. The second meaning is a hissing or sputtering sound, just like the word itself sounds — like the fizzle of a backyard firework or the fizzle of static on the radio as you switch stations.
Vocabulary lists containing fizzle
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
But as the movie awkwardly pivots to weighty themes like forgiveness, honor and grief, the initial sparks of subversiveness fizzle out.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 16, 2026
He is determined that his career should not fizzle out, which has happened with some other young prodigies in the past.
From BBC ● Sep. 4, 2026
While several industry experts told MarketWatch that controversies over advertisements tend to fizzle out in the medium term, there’s always a chance that damage to its brand could linger.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 27, 2026
Currency interventions that aren’t backed by a shift in central bank policy or fiscal policy historically buy weeks but can fizzle out after that.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 4, 2026
The mansion was eerily quiet, with only the fizzle of the last few solinium flares to alleviate the stillness.
From "Artemis Fowl" by Eoin Colfer
If the boomer boom fizzles, you still own one of the world’s largest diversified pharmaceutical companies.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 5, 2026
Researchers believe the shock "fizzles" after reaching the outer boundary of a bubble created by gas that the doomed star had previously expelled.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 16, 2026
When the relationship finally fizzles out in 1847, one almost feels happy for Sand; she’s freed herself from yet another burden on her finances—and on her optimistic spirit.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 7, 2026
But that conflict quickly fizzles as both parents become acquainted with this robot, whose memories only extend to the information the couple provided.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 24, 2026
The rest of the school year sort of fizzles to an end for me.
From "The Running Dream" by Wendelin Van Draanen
But by 1993, as prominent radio stations transitioned from dance-pop to hip-hop and R&B, the freestyle movement fizzled out.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 5, 2026
After his triumph in Beijing, which ensured he would win at least one title for the 21st year in a row, Djokovic's season has rather fizzled out.
From BBC ● Nov. 4, 2026
The data suggests that home-buying demand has fizzled out.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 20, 2026
But other new memory ETFs have fizzled so far.
From Barron's ● Sep. 30, 2026
He started plodding north from tidewater in February, but his enthusiasm fizzled on the lower reaches of the Ruth Glacier, still thirty miles from the peak, so he aborted the attempt and retreated to Talkeetna.
From "Into the Wild" by Jon Krakauer
Should fizzling investment and consumption extend into the winter, Beijing may be pushed to act to reach its annual growth target of 4.5%-5%, economists say.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 15, 2026
On the stunning ballad Good Reason, she struggles with the idea of a relationship fizzling out, with no major disagreements, just the gut feeling it's not working.
From BBC ● Jul. 18, 2026
Hopes for a deal run high before fizzling, so markets have been reluctant to discount longer-lasting disruptions, Morgan Stanley analysts said.
From MarketWatch ● Jun. 9, 2026
The rebound in software stocks appeared to be fizzling out as Wall Street pivoted back toward the chip and server makers that have helped power the market to all-time highs in recent months.
From Barron's ● Jun. 2, 2026
A warm, fizzling sensation filled my head, sending my pulse spiking.
From "The Darkest Minds" by Alexandra Bracken
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