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
In a 2006 interview with EW, Miller revealed that his would-be big breaks fizzled rather than sizzled. Chris Snellgrove, EW.com, 25 Feb. 2024 Each of the three niches continue to generate buzz among investors, even as other areas fizzle. Tara Bannow, STAT, 9 Feb. 2024 As Alison’s closeted father, Bruce, an intense Brent Roberts plays the role like a fizzling firecracker ready to pop. Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Feb. 2024 But the previously unreported investigation fizzled. Mike Hendricks, Kansas City Star, 7 Feb. 2024 His initial business model was to charge a subscription fee to readers, but that fizzled. Christopher Null, WIRED, 7 Feb. 2024 An initial boom in tourism and consumption fizzled out within months after its reopening. Laura He, CNN, 28 Feb. 2024 Craigslist, where Alejandro sources his modest jobs, is dreamily embodied as a genie-like spirit (theatrically played by Larry Owens) who teases the young man with promises of work that always fizzle. Carolina A. Miranda, Los Angeles Times, 28 Feb. 2024 It couldn’t be determined what came of the idea, known as Reddit Notes, as company communications about the plan fizzled out. Robert Peck, WIRED, 23 Feb. 2024
Noun
And just about everyone seemed to have a theory for the fizzle. Bailey Richards, Peoplemag, 13 Mar. 2024 If Copilot fizzles or is deemphasized the way Cortana was, the Copilot key could become a way to quickly date a Windows PC from the mid-2020s, the way that changes to the Windows logo date keyboards from earlier eras. Andrew Cunningham, Ars Technica, 4 Jan. 2024 The fizzle at the finish line guarantees that Congress will be ensnarled in policy and fiscal battles as lawmakers fight for control of the House and the Senate in November’s elections. Carl Hulse, New York Times, 20 Dec. 2023 There’s even merch in the works — and a rush to get it on shelves ASAP in case their love story fizzles quickly. Elizabeth Robinson, NBC News, 28 Sep. 2023 Its initial box-office fizzle was a disappointment, indicative of American audiences’ resistance to Latino stories, yet the film has endured as a touchstone for many Mexican-American viewers. Guy Lodge, Variety, 15 Oct. 2023 Despite the fizzle in Instacart’s shares since the debut, the offering was popular. Ryan Vlastelica, Fortune, 20 Sep. 2023 Advertisement The Senate trial, which promises to be one of the biggest political spectacles in Texas history, will determine not only whether Paxton will be allowed to serve out his term, but whether the movement against Republicans who voted to impeach him expands or fizzles. Gromer Jeffers Jr., Dallas News, 31 July 2023 Speaking of fizzles, this is not the first heyday of artificial intelligence, this is perhaps the second heyday. IEEE Spectrum, 7 July 2023

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 19 Mar. 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

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