sizzle 1 of 2

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

sizzle

2 of 2

verb

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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
A la carte has since become a $150 per person five-course dinner where the live fire of the open kitchen sizzles, the ingredients are largely local and the family-style service is steeped in warm, Peruvian comfort. Amy Drew Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 16 June 2025 On a recent Thursday morning, Woodruff, now 41, stands surrounded by the familiar sizzle and sputter of meat in hot oil in a large kitchen. Bradley Hohulin, IndyStar, 2 July 2025
Verb
The cost of eggs may be on the decline, but bacon prices are still sizzling. Elizabeth Robinson, NBC news, 13 June 2025 This year’s pattern stands in stark contrast to last year; the Bay Area sizzled in July 2024, starting from the very outset of the month and not letting up until the end. Rick Hurd, Mercury News, 22 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for sizzle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sizzle
Noun
  • Then there’s the whistle cue when Quint is standing on the bow, oddly beatific in the midst of extraordinary peril.
    David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 20 Aug. 2025
  • In those moments before a penalty is taken, a ’keeper faces sensory overload: crowd noise, the opposing player’s body language, the referee’s whistle, the internal pressure to make a decisive intervention.
    Matt Pyzdrowski, New York Times, 13 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • The previous week, Nini had boldly hissed at her from five feet away.
    Tao Lin, Harpers Magazine, 20 Aug. 2025
  • Filming from a distance, Savannah explained the cat was initially wary and would hiss if approached.
    Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • They’re wrapped in banana leaves instead of corn husks, are flatter and more rectangular in shape, and are about three times the size of the kind traditionally steamed in corn husks (perfect for sharing).
    Rachel Bernhard, jsonline.com, 24 Aug. 2025
  • The Cortado, a new style of coffee drink Starbucks added earlier this year, is made with three ristretto shots of Blonde Espresso and steamed milk (ristretto espresso shots are smaller and more concentrated than traditional ones).
    Gabe Hauari, USA Today, 21 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • Now, two weeks later, comes Marvel’s The Fantastic Four: First Steps—which, coincidentally or not, seems similarly positioned as an injection of Technicolor fizz into a progressively more leaden franchise.
    David Sims, The Atlantic, 25 July 2025
  • Just before pouring, top off each glass with sparkling water or Prosecco to add a refreshing burst of fizz.
    Elizabeth Fogarty, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 July 2025
Verb
  • The pair, who met as college undergrads, both burned with idealism and recognized their privilege could be leveraged for a game-changing idea.
    Carole Horst, Variety, 13 Sep. 2023
  • The Ellen MacArthur Foundation promotes circular fashion and says that, in the United States, an amount of clothing equal to a garbage truck is ferried to landfills or burned every second.
    Neeti Mehra, Treehugger, 13 Sep. 2023
Verb
  • While the debate rages on, the funerals keep coming.
    For the Carroll County Times, Baltimore Sun, 16 Aug. 2025
  • Now seven months into his term and the conflict still raging on, Trump's expressed increasing frustration with Putin's leadership.
    Alexandra Hutzler, ABC News, 15 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • With an inner zip pocket, red lip tag and generous size, it can be used as a carry-on and, when in destination, can double up as a beach or gym bag.
    Angelina Villa-Clarke, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2025
  • Two front zip pockets and a hidden back pocket keep valuables organized and out of reach from pickpockets.
    Rosie Marder, Travel + Leisure, 17 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • The Dolphins sideline erupted, with may offensive teammates storming the corner of the field to celebrate with Eskridge, including wide receivers coach Robert Prince, exuberant for one of his players.
    David Furones, Sun Sentinel, 15 Aug. 2025
  • Both women complained profusely to me about it before storming out.
    Abigail Van Buren, Boston Herald, 15 Aug. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Sizzle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sizzle. Accessed 27 Aug. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on sizzle

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!