maze

1 of 2

verb

ˈmāz 

mazed; mazing

transitive verb

1

chiefly dialectal : stupefy, daze

2

: bewilder, perplex

maze

2 of 2

noun

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

Synonyms of maze

Verb

• puzzle
• baffle
• confuse
• bewilder
• perplex

Noun

• labyrinth

Examples of maze in a Sentence

Verb

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

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

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The film is based on a viral conceit about a digital maze that exists outside of reality. —Matt Donnelly, Variety, 20 Mar. 2026

The three boats were almost home, sailing the last few dozen miles before disappearing into Maine’s unchartable maze of inlets and bays. —Jack Crosbie, Rolling Stone, 17 Mar. 2026

North Korean teams typically rely on a maze of Chinese networks to launder it, according to industry reports. —Lisa Cavazuti, NBC news, 15 Mar. 2026

From the air, much of Haiti is a maze of dry riverbeds and rugged mountains stripped of trees. —Denise Schrier Cetta, CBS News, 15 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

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

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