1
a
: fine dust, smoke, or light vapor causing lack of transparency of the air
b
: a cloudy appearance in a transparent liquid or solid
also
: a dullness of finish (as on furniture)
2
: something suggesting atmospheric haze
especially
: vagueness of mind or mental perception
hazed; hazing
: to make hazy, dull, or cloudy
: to become hazy or cloudy
hazed; hazing
1
a
: to harass by exacting unnecessary or disagreeable work
b
: to harass by banter, ridicule, or criticism
2
: to haze by way of initiation
haze the fraternity pledges
3
Western US
: to drive (animals, such as cattle or horses) from horseback
hazer
noun
Examples of haze in a Sentence
Noun
The bar was filled with a smoky haze.
She stumbled around in a drug-induced haze.
Verb (2)
the roughnecks on the oil rig would haze the young man for his refined manners and educated speech
Recent Examples on the Web
Perri Thaler, Space.com, 6 July 2025
Smog, haze and pollution sometimes contribute to poor air quality.
—Lorenzino Estrada, AZCentral.com, 3 July 2025
Gwozniac, oregonlive, 8 Apr. 2023
So Owen is scrambling and learning on the job — relying on his wits and a taste for risk — while his more seasoned colleagues are dreaming up ways to haze and undermine him.
—Nina Metz, Chicago Tribune, 6 Jan. 2023
See All Example Sentences for haze
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Noun
The wind that causes the haze is also responsible for the reddish area at the top of the photo.
—Perri Thaler, Space.com, 6 July 2025
Smog, haze and pollution sometimes contribute to poor air quality.
—Lorenzino Estrada, AZCentral.com, 3 July 2025
Verb
In the past, Oregon officials tried to haze or trap and remove sea lions back to the ocean.
—Gwozniac, oregonlive, 8 Apr. 2023
So Owen is scrambling and learning on the job — relying on his wits and a taste for risk — while his more seasoned colleagues are dreaming up ways to haze and undermine him.
—Nina Metz, Chicago Tribune, 6 Jan. 2023
See All Example Sentences for haze
Cite this Entry
“Haze.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/haze. Accessed 12 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
haze
2 of 3 verb
hazed; hazing
: to make or become hazy or cloudy
haze
3 of 3 verb
hazed; hazing
: to play unpleasant and humiliating tricks on (as new members of a college fraternity) or force to perform humiliating tasks or stunts
hazer
noun
Etymology
Noun
from hazy
Verb
origin unknown
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