fizzle

1 of 2

verb

fiz·​zle ˈfi-zəl How to pronounce fizzle (audio)
fizzled; fizzling ˈfi-zə-liŋ How to pronounce fizzle (audio)
ˈfiz-liŋ

intransitive verb

1
: fizz
2
: to fail or end feebly especially after a promising start
often used with out

fizzle

2 of 2

noun

: an abortive effort : failure

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
The fireworks have fizzled, and all that’s left to do is feign fidelity. Karen D'souza, The Mercury News, 25 Oct. 2024 In some ways, this show is like the inverse of WandaVision, which started out so strong but fizzled out in the end. Erik Kain, Forbes, 25 Oct. 2024
Noun
But the energy fizzles when The Apprentice descends into a supercut of the younger Trump’s lore. Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 11 Oct. 2024 Until recently, most of the attention has been focused on direct causes of death, such as drownings from floodwaters, rather than the complex cascade of events that can elevate mortality long after a storm fizzles. Andrew Freedman, Axios, 2 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for fizzle 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'fizzle.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Verb

perhaps alteration of fist to break wind

First Known Use

Verb

1840, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1846, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of fizzle was in 1840

Dictionary Entries Near fizzle

Cite this Entry

“Fizzle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fizzle. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

fizzle

verb
fiz·​zle
ˈfiz-əl
fizzled; fizzling
-(ə-)liŋ
: to fail after a good start
often used with out
fizzle noun

More from Merriam-Webster on fizzle

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!