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Glite Dictionary
💥 To fail weakly 💥 A total failure
to fizzle

to fizzle

24 5.6
To end in a weak or disappointing way after a promising start
  • verb
  • /ˈfɪzəl/
  • Informal
: desinflarse
  • The fireworks were spectacular at first, but they started to fizzle before the grand finale.

I just kept quiet and I let it fizzle away.

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Examples

  • Still, while it could fizzle into nothing, we're far from out of options to pursue because science never really ends.

    SciShow

  • Many patterns just fizzle out, but a few keep growing forever.

  • In other words, some connection might happen real quick, but also might fizzle out real quick.

    Mat Boggs

  • I mean, I love him, but things tend to fizzle every now and then if you know what I mean.

    October Moon (2005)

  • Okay, guys, don't start anything until this party starts to fizzle though, okay?

    Hardbodies (1984)

  • Match after match disappears into his elaborate stone structure, only to fizzle out.

    Fiction book (1993)

  • But little had changed by 1952 when another Senate proposal fizzled and died in committee.

    Academic text (2007)

  • But for most Americans, the comet fizzled in the public relations department.

    Academic text (1992)

  • I was under the impression that research on NLP fizzled out years ago due to disappointing results.

    Blog text (21)

  • Around this point, herd immunity kicks in where the virus can no longer find new hosts, so the pandemic fizzles out a short time after it began.

Synonyms

to taper off
vsto fizzle
16 4.5

To become smaller or weaker over time until it stops

is more neutral and calm and may not end in disappointment
to peter out
vsto fizzle
10 5.6

To slowly become weaker and then stop

reaches a weak or disappointing end rather than merely fading away
to fizzle out
vsto fizzle
  • Informal
9 5.3

To gradually lose energy or interest and end weakly

is the same meaning but often used as a shorter single word form
to end on a false note
vsto fizzle
1 7.0

Finish in a way that leaves people disappointed or unhappy

ends weakly and fails expectations but with focus on the weak result

Antonyms

to succeed
827 2.0

To reach a goal after trying hard

to thrive
233 3.2

To grow well and be successful

Phrasal Verbs

to fizzle out
  • Informal
9 5.3

To gradually lose energy or interest and end weakly

to start to fizzle
1 4.8

To lose energy or interest slowly until it fades

How Strong

to crash
  • Specialized
45 3.2
collapse
323 4.1
to fizzle
  • Informal
24 5.6
to peter out
10 5.6
to fade away
86 3.0
to die away
9 4.2

Surface Forms

fizzle infinitive
fizzling present participle
fizzles third person singular
fizzled past
fizzled past participle

Morphology

fizzle = fizz (semi-transparent) = fizz + le

Formed from onomatopoeic 'fizz' + the frequentative/verb-forming suffix '-le'; the sense 'to end weakly/gradually die out' is a common metaphorical extension from the sound but is not purely literal.

Etymology

To fizzle comes from fizz, the soft 'hiss' or bubbling noise, so think of something that begins with a spark but slowly dies into a weak sound; that is why to fizzle means to end weakly or to disappoint.