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

Though some concept drawings were released by the company shortly after the project began in 2008, more recent renditions have been little more than hints showing the craft as an outline in the haze, with only the nose and cockpit showing clearly. — New Atlas, 4 Oct. 2026

Upper hazes on gas giants have been studied ad nauseam, but microphysical processes beneath the main cloud layer remain an enigma. — Elizabeth Rayne, ArsTechnica, 1 Oct. 2026

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

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