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sizzle 1 of 2

noun

Definition of sizzlenext
as in whistle
a sound similar to the speech sound \s\ stretched out there was a brief sizzle as the moth flew into the flame

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sizzle

2 of 2

verb

ˈsi-zəl How to pronounce sizzle (audio)
1
as in to hiss
to make a sound like that of stretching out the speech sound \s\ from my bed I could hear the bacon sizzling in the frying pan

Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in to steam
to be excited or emotionally stirred up with anger she was really sizzling about being passed over for the promotion, and nearly quit

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of sizzle
Noun
The summer sizzle will stick around through Friday with high temperatures in the low 90s and heat indices in the triple digits again with the potential for spotty storms. — Lissette Gonzalez, CBS News, 13 Aug. 2026 At another kettle grill, thicker skirt steaks sizzle over the coals before receiving a dicing for the arrachera tacos. — Stephanie Breijo, Los Angeles Times, 25 July 2026
Verb
Backup quarterback Jameis Winston also sizzled, completing 19-of-20 passes while running the second-team offense, marking his second straight explosive padded practice including Tuesday’s six-touchdown red zone performance. — Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 7 Aug. 2026 August continues to sizzle on Netflix, with a wide variety of interesting content coming to the streaming service. — K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 7 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for sizzle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sizzle
  1. whistle
  2. hiss
  3. steam
  4. fizz
  5. burn
  6. zip
  7. boil
  8. rage
Noun
  • In reality, the contest was over once Calvert-Lewin scored Leeds’ third, which was before the half-time whistle.
    — Chris Waugh, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2026
  • By the time the final whistle blew on Sunday night, Week 1 had left fingerprints across the HBCU football landscape.
    — Wilton Jackson, AJC.com, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of whistle
Verb
  • Scientists previously created tiny diving suits for Madagascar hissing cockroaches that could be used in perilous search operations, according to a study published in the journal Nature Communications.
    — Devika Rao, TheWeek, 3 Sep. 2026
  • But delivering that level of craft in a high-octane room where the hissing espresso machine competes with the bassline?
    — Carly Boers, Chicago Tribune, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of hiss
Verb
  • In a crockery pot, my father steams cauliflower, stirring it round and round.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 17 Sep. 2026
  • Airing garments out, steaming them or spot-treating stains can stretch the time between cycles.
    — Ryan Brennan, Charlotte Observer, 17 Sep. 2026
Definition of steam
Noun
  • Guests enjoyed dirty martinis, negronis, and grapefruit fizz while burger sliders and truffle toasties were passed around.
    — Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 4 Sep. 2026
  • The effervescent fizz of Ocean’s Eleven came as a bit of a surprise at the time, though Soderbergh has since established himself as one of the most versatile filmmakers in modern movie history.
    — Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of fizz
Verb
  • In Indonesia, farmers rely on rain to dissolve fertilizers into the soil to avoid burning the plants, explained Eddy Martono, chairman of the Indonesian Palm Oil Association.
    — EDNA TARIGAN, Arkansas Online, 23 Sep. 2026
  • The greatest health risks arise when tobacco is burned, which generates thousands of toxic substances, including carcinogens, carbon monoxide and fine particulate matter.
    — Hasmeena Kathuria, The Conversation, 22 Sep. 2026
Definition of burn
Noun
  • Local news video showed the bridge temporarily closed as LAPD officers stood among youths lined up with their hands zip-tied behind their backs.
    — Assistant Editor, Los Angeles Times, 14 Sep. 2026
  • Allen opened with a scrambly, 38-yard lob to leaping, stretching tight end Dalton Kincaid and followed with a 15-yard zip to Moore on an in route to the Texans’ 43-yard line.
    — Tim Graham, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2026
Definition of zip
Verb
  • New potatoes, Red Bliss, fingerlings, and other waxy varieties have a dense texture and hold their shape particularly well after boiling.
    — Molly Baz, Bon Appetit Magazine, 15 Sep. 2026
  • Out toward the edge, the star would boil unstably, sloughing off outer layers and explosively ejecting mass.
    — Quanta Magazine, Quanta Magazine, 14 Sep. 2026
Definition of boil
Verb
  • As debate rages over how to respond to the growing power of artificial intelligence, Bill Gates is throwing a billion dollars and some words of wisdom at the problem.
    — Ella Chakarian, Los Angeles Times, 16 Sep. 2026
  • Wind River’s Julia Jones shows up as a Native woman who joins the pack, and holds her own against obstacles ranging from raging rivers to even-more-raging men.
    — David Fear, Rolling Stone, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of rage

Browse Nearby Words

sizing up
sizzle
sizzled
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Sizzle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sizzle. Accessed 23 Sep. 2026.

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