haze

noun \ ˈhāz \

Updated on: 21 May 2018

Definition of haze

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

See haze defined for English-language learners

See haze defined for kids

Examples of haze in a Sentence

The bar was filled with a smoky haze.
She stumbled around in a drug-induced haze.

Recent Examples of haze from the Web

Servers pour out drinks, blast music, and smoke until the haze hangs over the main dining room.

— refinery29.com, "Sweetbitter Episode 2: Welcome To The Club," 14 May 2018
Beneath a gassy haze, boiling, ruby-red, molten rock thickened and rose up, swelling like a tidal wave topped off by a fireworks of crashing surf.

— giannella m. garrett, chicagotribune.com, "When planning a hike on an active volcano, safety before spectacle," 11 May 2018
Like most hot and humid days, plan on some haze, as well.

— ian livingston, Washington Post, "PM Update: Summerlike Saturday, then spring is back Sunday, with storms a risk in the middle," 11 May 2018
The effects of the eruption—a persistent haze, droughts, harsh winters—were felt from northern Europe all the way to northern China.

— brigit katz, Smithsonian, "A Violent Volcanic Eruption Immortalized in Medieval Poem May Have Spurred Iceland’s Adoption of Christianity," 23 Mar. 2018
In short, The Big Lebowski is a very strange movie set in a highly stylized filmic universe: 1991 Los Angeles, as viewed through a haze of marijuana smoke and White Russians.

— jeet heer, The New Republic, "Why Film Critics Were Blind to The Big Lebowski’s Brilliance," 9 Mar. 2018
Almost every scene is filmed through a haze or plume of smoke, and the coffin nails define and sicken the chain-smoking characters.

— nina burleigh, Newsweek, "'Trumbo' Terrific but Fated to Flop," 7 Nov. 2015
Swathes of Greece have been shrouded in haze as persistent southerly winds have carried waves of dust from the African continent across the Mediterranean.

— Washington Post, "Haze of African dust shrouds parts of Greece," 26 Mar. 2018
But after all the time and hype, most of the details of Watergate have faded into a historical haze.

— ray locker, USA TODAY, "New book puts readers inside the Watergate, one of Washington's most notorious addresses," 19 Feb. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'haze.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of haze

probably back-formation from hazy

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1706

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

haze Synonyms

Other Climate/Meteorology Terms

monsoon, occlusion, ozone, rime, squall, zephyr

haze

verb

Definition of haze

hazed; hazing

transitive verb

: to make hazy, dull, or cloudy

intransitive verb

: to become hazy or cloudy

First Known Use of haze

1801

in the meaning defined at transitive sense

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

haze

verb

Definition of haze

hazed; hazing

transitive verb

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

Recent Examples of haze from the Web

According a copy of a 1991 lawsuit obtained by the Associated Press at the time, Hamm was one of a number of Sigma Nu frat members who participated in a violent college hazing incident in November 1990 at the University of Texas-Austin.

— aurelie corinthios, PEOPLE.com, "Jon Hamm Talks Frat Hazing Allegations, His Softcore Porn Gig and Split from Jennifer Westfeldt," 4 Apr. 2018
Updates on the Penn State hazing death case and the upcoming Bill Cosby retrial are also ahead, plus much more.

— aubrey nagle, Philly.com, "Phillies opening day, Penn State frat charges dropped | Morning Newsletter," 29 Mar. 2018
One of the five Wheaton College football players accused of hazing a teammate pleaded guilty to misdemeanor battery Thursday morning, and other charges against him were dropped.

— clifford ward, chicagotribune.com, "Wheaton College football player accused of hazing teammate pleads guilty to misdemeanor; other charges dropped," 22 Mar. 2018
Many people who grow up in the Boston area are imparted a kind of skeptical awe of that family, keenly aware of their power, hazed in sadness, cushioned by wealth.

— richard lawson, HWD, "Chappaquiddick Review: A Kennedy Family Crisis, Without the Rubber-Necking," 5 Apr. 2018
Be big and loud, but avoid hazing moms with pups, and slink away — never sprint.

— vanessa hua, San Francisco Chronicle, "Close encounters of the coyote kind," 28 Mar. 2018
But Landry's bill making hazing a felony is the centerpiece of the anti-hazing legislation.

— greg hilburn, the (monroe, USA TODAY, "Mom pleads for Louisiana bill that would make hazing a felony," 22 Mar. 2018
Under the legislation, hazing that results in serious bodily injury or death would be a third-degree felony, while hazing that leads to less serious bodily injury would be upgraded to a third-degree misdemeanor.

— susan snyder, Philly.com, "Penn State frat death hearing resumes amid call for tougher hazing penalties," 23 Mar. 2018
Hands jammed into his pockets, Lee seems a million miles away, eyes hazing over in conversations, small talk or flirtation striking him like a fly on a windscreen.

— tom shone, Newsweek, "Review: Casey Affleck and Michelle Williams Will Break Your Heart in ‘Manchester by the Sea’," 26 Nov. 2016

Origin and Etymology of haze

origin unknown

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1840

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

HAZE Defined for English Language Learners

haze

noun

Definition of haze for English Language Learners

: dust, smoke, or mist that has filled the air so that you cannot see clearly
: a state of confusion

HAZE Defined for Kids

haze

noun \ ˈhāz \

Definition of haze for Students

: fine dust, smoke, or fine particles of water in the air

Learn More about haze

See words that rhyme with haze Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for haze Spanish Central: Translation of haze Nglish: Translation of haze for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of haze for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about haze

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haze

Definition of haze

Examples of haze in a Sentence

Recent Examples of haze from the Web

Origin and Etymology of haze

haze Synonyms

Synonyms

Near Antonyms

Related Words

Other Climate/Meteorology Terms

haze

Definition of haze

First Known Use of haze

haze

Definition of haze

hazer

Recent Examples of haze from the Web

Origin and Etymology of haze

HAZE Defined for English Language Learners

haze

Definition of haze for English Language Learners

HAZE Defined for Kids

haze

Definition of haze for Students

Learn More about haze

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