maze

1 of 2

verb

ˈmāz 

mazed; mazing

transitive verb

1

chiefly dialectal : stupefy, daze

2

: bewilder, perplex

maze

2 of 2

noun

1

a

: a confusing intricate network of passages

b

: something confusingly elaborate or complicated

a maze of regulations

2

chiefly dialectal : a state of bewilderment

mazelike

ˈmāz-ˌlīk 

adjective

Synonyms

Verb

• addle
• baffle
• bamboozle
• beat
• befog
• befuddle
• bemuse
• bewilder
• buffalo
• confound
• confuse
• discombobulate
• disorient
• flummox
• fox
• fuddle
• get
• gravel
• muddle
• muddy
• mystify
• perplex
• pose
• puzzle
• vex

Noun

• labyrinth
• rabbit warren
• warren

Examples of maze in a Sentence

Verb

I'm completely mazed by the multitude of plans for health insurance.

Noun

The experiment measured the time it took for a mouse to find its way through a maze to get its reward of cheese.

The school is a maze of classrooms.

a maze of rules and regulations

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

There's a toy piano, a mini bead maze, several kinds of spinning toys and more. —Jessica Hartshorn, Good Housekeeping, 15 Mar. 2023

Once back in character, Nyong’o attempted blending into the Horror Nights maze to scare unsuspecting guests. —Nick Romano, EW.com, 30 Oct. 2019

Noun

The researchers tested this system using a search-and-find maze game called Gnomes at Night and found that the AI was able to discern human intentions far faster with the help of language (which is a fairly intuitive finding). —Jeremy Kahn, Fortune, 28 May 2024

With immunity challenges involving puzzles, obstacle courses and mazes, Petty survived 12 tribal councils to earn a spot in the the finale’s top five. —Evan Moore, Charlotte Observer, 23 May 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English

First Known Use

Verb

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

maze

noun

ˈmāz

1

: a confusing complicated network of passages

2

: something complicated or elaborate

a confusing maze of regulations

Medical Definition

maze

noun

ˈmāz 

: a path complicated by at least one blind alley and used in learning experiments and in intelligence tests