fizzle
Plural: fizzles
Noun
- a fricative sound (especially as an expression of disapproval)
- a complete failure
- A spluttering or hissing sound.
- Failure of an exploding nuclear bomb to meet its expected yield during testing.
- An abortive effort; a flop or dud.
- A state of agitation or worry.
Verb
Verb Forms: fizzled, fizzling, fizzles
- To make a fizzing sound; to fail weakly.
- end weakly
- To sputter or hiss.
- To decay or die off to nothing; to burn out; to end less successfully than previously hoped.
- To fail to generate the expected yield when exploded during testing.
Examples
- His grand Scrabble strategy threatened to FIZZLE after he drew all vowels.
- The entire project fizzled after the founder quit.
- The shot fizzled, generating only 200 tons rather than the 30 kilotons they were aiming for.
- The soda fizzled for several minutes after it was poured.
Origin / Etymology
Attested in English since 1525-35. From earlier fysel (“to fart”). Related to fīsa (“to fart”). Compare with Swedish fisa (“to fart (silently)”). See also feist.
It could also come from old Norse: "fise" simply means "blow," like in "blow in the wind." A weather-exposed community in Rogaland, Norway, is called Fister. (In modern language, the verb "fisle" has the same 3 meanings as in English, see below.)
Scrabble Score: 27
fizzle: valid Scrabble (US) TWL Wordfizzle: valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
fizzle: valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary