fizzled
Lost its steam
Fizzled is the past tense of fizzle—to fail or peter out after a promising start.
A romance fizzles, a campaign fizzles, enthusiasm fizzles.
The word suggests gradual deflation rather than dramatic collapse: The protest fizzled when rain started.
Their plans fizzled out over the summer.
The original sense was to make a hissing sound, like a damp firework that sputters but never explodes.
Gradually diminished to nothing
- flopComplete commercial failure
- bustFailure or sculpture
- washoutComplete failure or cancellation
- misfireFailure to discharge
nonstarter · fiasco · debacle · flopped · tanked · bombed · collapsed · fell flat
Failure to satisfy expectations
- underwhelmingFailing to meet expectations
- anticlimacticDisappointingly weak after buildup
- damp squibUnderwhelming outcome after buildup
- deflatedEmptied of pressure
flat · lackluster · disappointing · unfulfilling · unsatisfying · unimpressive · tame · limp
Exhausted from prolonged stress
- spentExhausted or disbursed
- drainedEmptied of resources
- flaggedMarked for attention
- petered outGradually diminished to nothing
depleted · worn out · sputtered · died down · waned · faded · ebbed · subsided
Stripped of dissolved gas
petered out
Gradually diminished to nothing
misfire · nonstarter · fiasco · debacle · flopped · tanked · bombed · collapsed · fell flat · dead duck
letdown
Failure to satisfy expectations
- underwhelmingFailing to meet expectations
- anticlimacticDisappointingly weak after buildup
- damp squibUnderwhelming outcome after buildup
deflated · flat · lackluster · disappointing · unfulfilling · unsatisfying · unimpressive · tame · limp · lost momentum
burnt out
Exhausted from prolonged stress
petered out · depleted · worn out · sputtered · died down · waned · faded · ebbed · subsided · weakened
decarbonated
Stripped of dissolved gas
fizzledsucceeded
Achieved desired outcome
triumphed · flourished · thrived · accomplished · achieved
- fizzle outFail after promising start
- fizzling outGradually losing momentum