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

But Anderson punctures his weed haze with the bright light of a past that in actuality never dimmed, when Lockjaw begins to hunt Pat and Willa. —Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 24 Nov. 2025

The sound system was pristine, red lasers sliced through the haze, and the DJ created a down-tempo soundscape that reminded me of Berlin. —Denny Lee, Travel + Leisure, 16 Nov. 2025

Under this Scorpionic haze, secrets get whispered through dreams, eye contact, or accidental texts. —Dossé-Via Trenou, Refinery29, 16 Nov. 2025

Some North Texans who spotted them earlier this week described a faint pink haze stretching over the horizon. —Tiffani Jackson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 12 Nov. 2025

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