haze

1 of 3

noun

ˈhāz 

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 : unclear state of mind

woke up in a haze

haze

2 of 3

verb (1)

hazed; hazing

transitive verb

: to make hazy, dull, or cloudy

intransitive verb

: to become hazy or cloudy

haze

3 of 3

verb (2)

hazed; hazing

transitive verb

1

a

: to harass by exacting unnecessary or disagreeable work

b

: to harass by banter, ridicule, or criticism

2

: to play tricks on or force to do unpleasant or unsafe things as initiation

haze the fraternity pledges

3

Western US : to drive (animals, such as cattle or horses) from horseback

hazer noun

Synonyms of haze

Noun

• fog
• cloud
• mist

Verb (2)

• tease
• taunt
• mock

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

Noun

Malaysia’s haze crisis is being driven largely by forest and peat fires in neighboring Indonesia, made worse by the dry weather. — ABC News, 30 Sep. 2026

Heatwaves drive heatstroke, dehydration, and other health conditions; rising air pollution from haze causes respiratory conditions; floods and natural disasters cause injury while disrupting the day-to-day operations of hospitals and clinics. — Mitch New, Fortune, 30 Sep. 2026

Light bloom isn’t too apparent along the edges of shirts and suits, though the black letterboxing bars for the film’s anamorphic format show some noticeable haze that expands and intensifies when the top or bottom of the frame is especially bright. — Will Greenwald, PC Magazine, 28 Sep. 2026

When these elements mix with the scorching hot water, the haze develops. — Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 26 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

probably back-formation from hazy

Verb (2)

origin unknown

First Known Use

Noun

1582, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb (1)

1801, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Verb (2)

1850, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for haze

• baize
• bays
• blase
• blaze
• braes
• braze
• chaise
• claes
• clays
• craze
• dais
• days

Kids Definition

haze

1 of 3 noun

ˈhāz 

1

: fine dust, smoke, or light vapor causing lack of transparency in the air

2

: unclearness of mind or perception : daze

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