maze

1 of 2

verb

mazed; mazing

transitive verb

1
chiefly dialectal : stupefy, daze
2

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 adjective

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Poland’s Nazi labyrinth The countryside around the little Polish village of Pniewo looks serene, with its yellow crops and patches of forest, but beneath the surface lies a sprawling 20-mile maze of tunnels, shafts, underground railway stations and combat facilities. Maureen O'Hare, CNN Money, 18 Oct. 2025 Referral pathways must connect primary care, gynaecology, mental health, and cardiometabolic services so women are not left to navigate a maze with contradictory advice. Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 18 Oct. 2025 Some companies provide access to a caregiving navigator who can guide you through the health care maze. Kat McGowan, NPR, 18 Oct. 2025 Following a young woman navigating life after growing up in an orphanage, the film transforms her shrinking apartment into a dreamlike maze of memory and loss, using striking visual metaphors to explore belonging, self-worth, and the fragile hope of starting over. Essie Assibu, Variety, 17 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for maze

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English

First Known Use

Verb

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of maze was in the 13th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Maze.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/maze. Accessed 20 Oct. 2025.

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

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