fizzle

American  

[fiz-uhl] / ˈfɪz əl /

verb (used without object)

fizzled, fizzling

1. to make a hissing or sputtering sound, especially one that dies out weakly.

2. Informal. to fail ignominiously after a good start (often followed byout ).

   The reform movement fizzled out because of poor leadership.

   Synonyms:

   founder, collapse, miscarry

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noun

1. a fizzling, hissing, or sputtering.

2. Informal. a failure; fiasco.

fizzle British  

/ ˈfɪzəl /

verb

1. to make a hissing or bubbling sound

2. informal (often foll by out) to fail or die out, esp after a promising start

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noun

1. a hissing or bubbling sound; fizz

2. informal an outright failure; fiasco

Etymology

Origin of fizzle

1525–35; earlier fysel to break wind, frequentative of *fise < Old Norse fīsa to break wind; akin to feist

Example Sentences

I jog back toward the gravel road, phone pressed to my ear, and as soon as I’m through the archway, the static fizzles away.

From Literature

The case for the Terafab probably isn’t helped by grandiose ideas that Musk has touted in recent years that fizzled out—such as aiming to scale Tesla to build 20 million vehicles a year.

From The Wall Street Journal

Transportation Security Administration agents’ hopes of getting paid soon were dashed Wednesday as initial support for the latest Department of Homeland Security funding deal fizzled out.

From Barron's

But the Cowgirls outscored the Bruins in the second half and the Bruins’ shooting fizzled out during a tense third quarter.

From Los Angeles Times

But those hopes dimmed on Wednesday as initial support fizzled out.

From Barron's

Related Words

• abort
• misfire
• peter out
• wane