fizzle

Meaning

Verb

1. To sputter or hiss.
2. (informal) To decay or die off to nothing; to burn out; to end less successfully than previously hoped.
3. To fail to generate the expected yield when exploded during testing.

Noun

1. A spluttering or hissing sound.
2. Failure of an exploding nuclear bomb to meet its expected yield during testing.
3. An abortive effort; a flop or dud.
4. A state of agitation or worry.

Synonyms

failure

fizz

hiss

bust

effervesce

flop

peter out

hissing

taper off

hushing

fizzle out

fail

sibilation

misfire

misfortune

miss

naught

pipe

pipe down

quiet

settle

splutter

sputtering

wane

zip

bubble

come to nothing

sibilate

siss

come a cropper

collapse

decrease

diminish

disfavor

disfavour

disgrace

failing

fiasco

flunk

froth

hoot

hush

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈfɪzəl/

Etymology

Cognate with Swedish: fisa

In summary

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.)