fizzle

verb

fiz·zle | \ˈfi-zəl

fizzled; fizzling\ˈfi-z(ə-)liŋ

Definition of fizzle

(Entry 1 of 2)

intransitive verb

1 : fizz

2 : to fail or end feebly especially after a promising start —often used with out

fizzle

noun

Definition of fizzle (Entry 2 of 2)

: an abortive effort : failure

Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences Learn More about fizzle

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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

An attempt to censure Sen. John Cornyn fizzled early during the GOP convention. — Scott Braddock, Houston Chronicle, "Braddock: Perhaps the GOP civil war in Texas really is over," 2 July 2018 Boundaries fizzle accordingly, yielding a vast spectrum of tender gestures. — Rachel Vorona Cote, The New Republic, "In GLOW, Who Gets To Be Empowered?," 28 June 2018 An amazing start that fizzled Bill Martin, the former Michigan athletic director, sat in the Alamodome on Monday night, a few rows off the court. — Jeff Seidel, Detroit Free Press, "Michigan basketball had a magical run. But Villanova was just too good," 2 Apr. 2018 The powerful emotions at Columbia's rally fizzled under the new format, which included experts from the department's Bureau of Ocean Energy Management quietly answering questions one on one in a hotel meeting room. — The Washington Post, NOLA.com, "In South Carolina, some in GOP say oil, beaches don't mix," 28 Feb. 2018 During the 20 years that Watts Bar 2 fizzled, China has built 7 new nuclear power plants. — Avery Thompson, Popular Mechanics, "First American Nuclear Power Plant in 20 Years Opens in Tennessee," 14 June 2016 Yet a string of would-be media hits on President Trump’s Supreme Court nominee, Brett Kavanaugh, have fizzled on impact -- doing little to dent his image and, in some cases, backfiring on the news outlets that published them. — Brian Flood, Fox News, "Media's biggest Kavanaugh misses: Aspiring hit pieces on Supreme Court pick draw mockery," 21 Aug. 2018 Airline efforts to corral the menagerie of animals in airplane cabins have fizzled this summer. — Scott Mccartney, WSJ, "On U.S. Planes, the Dogs Are Winning," 8 Aug. 2018 Some promising campaigns already have fizzled out while many more face strong anti-Muslim backlash. — Jeff Karoub, The Seattle Times, "Muslims run for office in record numbers but the path is uphill," 16 July 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

The immediate threats to Israeli security could of course fizzle. — New York Times, "Israel Feels Pride but Senses Peril as U.S. Moves Embassy," 13 May 2018 The 8-5 loss was the Cubs’ fifth already this season and punctuated Wrigleyville’s opening day celebration with a fizzle. — Dan Wiederer, chicagotribune.com, "It's too early to worry about the Cubs — so buckle up for the next 18 days," 11 Apr. 2018 No one knows if this will turn into a Hollywood story or fizzle under the crush of the long, draining road required to survive and thrive. — Bryce Miller, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Round 1: Will anger, desire spur a young San Diego boxer to spotlight?," 22 June 2018 The Maryland team pieced together a 15-play drive under the wire to put itself deep in Pennsylvania territory and then withheld the uncharacteristically quiet opposing offense to a fourth-down fizzle. — Katherine Fominykh, baltimoresun.com, "River Hill's Cooper McGeehan hits late field goal to give Maryland rare 9-6 win in Big 33 Classic," 16 June 2018 Men's' long jump showdown fizzles at the NCAA Championships. — OregonLive.com, "Women take over at Hayward, and Ducks look for a better day; Oregon track & Field rundown," 7 June 2018 The immediate threats to Israeli security could of course fizzle. — New York Times, "Israel Feels Pride but Senses Peril as U.S. Moves Embassy," 13 May 2018 An otherworldly cloud flourished from the fizzle, rapidly expanding outward and upward, morphing into different shapes. — Fox News, "AP photographer documents lava meeting sea in sizzling show," 22 May 2018 An otherworldly cloud flourished from the fizzle, rapidly expanding outward and upward, morphing into different shapes. — Washington Post, "AP photographer documents lava meeting sea in sizzling show," 22 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'fizzle.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.