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

Sales at U.S retailers fizzled at the end of the holiday shopping season, suggesting consumers worried about the economy might be cutting back on spending as the new year got underway.

From MarketWatch

At the same time, gains for stocks in tech and artificial intelligence haven’t completely fizzled.

From Barron's

For Bowers, DeMarr’s story echoes the cautionary tales he grew up with of “forgotten about” people, who, despite their talents, burn out or see their careers fizzle for different reasons.

From Los Angeles Times

But the transaction fizzled out after China protested.

From Barron's

Of course, the Patriots won their six Super Bowls with Tom Brady and Grumpy Lobster Boat Captain Bill Belichick, who built a dynastic partnership before it fizzled in a fog of grunts and perceived slights.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• abort
• misfire
• peter out
• wane