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

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 haze by way of initiation

haze the fraternity pledges

3

Western US : to drive (animals, such as cattle or horses) from horseback

hazer noun

Synonyms

Noun

• brume
• fog
• gauze
• mist
• murk
• reek
• smog
• soup

Verb (2)

• bait
• hassle
• heckle
• needle
• ride
• taunt
• tease

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

Doug Brown, director of stewardship at the Berkshire Natural Resources Council, a nonprofit that maintains nearly 14,000 acres of wild land and over 60 miles of trails in this western Massachusetts county, stares into the distant haze, shielding his eyes from the sun. —Sophie Ungerleider, The Christian Science Monitor, 6 Dec. 2024

The best conditions to see the night sky will be with clear skies without clouds or haze. —Maia Pandey, Journal Sentinel, 4 Dec. 2024

Verb

In the past, Oregon officials tried to haze or trap and remove sea lions back to the ocean. —Gwozniac, oregonlive, 8 Apr. 2023

So Owen is scrambling and learning on the job — relying on his wits and a taste for risk — while his more seasoned colleagues are dreaming up ways to haze and undermine him. —Nina Metz, Chicago Tribune, 6 Jan. 2023

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

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