maze

1 of 2

noun

ˈmāz 

1

a

: a confusing intricate network of passages

b

: something confusingly elaborate or complicated

a maze of regulations

2

chiefly dialectal : a state of bewilderment

mazelike

ˈmāz-ˌlīk 

adjective

maze

2 of 2

verb

mazed; mazing

transitive verb

1

chiefly dialectal : stupefy, daze

2

: bewilder, perplex

Synonyms of maze

Noun

• labyrinth

Verb

• puzzle
• baffle
• confuse
• bewilder
• perplex

Examples of maze in a Sentence

Noun

The experiment measured the time it took for a mouse to find its way through a maze to get its reward of cheese.

The school is a maze of classrooms.

a maze of rules and regulations

Verb

I'm completely mazed by the multitude of plans for health insurance.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The system is a maze in which laws collide with gray areas, where layers upon layers of policy have accumulated over decades in a pile waiting for reform that has never come. — Andrew Carter, Chicago Tribune, 20 Sep. 2026

The 24-by-32-foot maze of chambers, gaskets, gauges and pipes has jokingly been nicknamed Martha by some of the technicians who run it. — Dana Hedgpeth, Washington Post, 20 Sep. 2026

There’s a big difference between the island’s bureaucratic maze and South Florida’s small-business ecosystem. — Maykel Gonzalez, Miami Herald, 19 Sep. 2026

This year's maze at Davis is Halloween-themed, with a giant jack-o'-lantern in the middle. — Neal Riley, CBS News, 16 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing maze

• corn maze

Rhymes for maze

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

Kids Definition

maze

noun

ˈmāz

1

: a confusing complicated network of passages

2

: something complicated or elaborate

a confusing maze of regulations

Medical Definition

maze

noun

ˈmāz 

: a path complicated by at least one blind alley and used in learning experiments and in intelligence tests