maze

1 of 2

noun

ˈmāz How to pronounce maze (audio)
Synonyms of maze
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 How to pronounce maze (audio)
adjective

maze

2 of 2

verb

mazed; mazing

transitive verb

1
chiefly dialectal : stupefy, daze
2
: bewilder, perplex

Synonyms of maze

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Noun

Verb

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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
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
His son Jack, who had attended the event in California, was instrumental in making these mazes happen, Universal officials have said. — Dewayne Bevil, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 Aug. 2026 The conversation between Barker and the journalist would eventually gravitate to Halloween Horror Nights, whose mazes for many horror TV creators and filmmakers have become badges of honor, and markers of pop cultural relevance. — Abbey White, HollywoodReporter, 27 Aug. 2026 City Park is a small-town gem, with an elaborate English hedge maze; 25-foot-tall, castle-like Clark Tower; and the Cutler-Donahoe Covered Bridge. — Taryn Shorr-McKee, Midwest Living, 26 Aug. 2026 Inked designer Daniel Miller says the maze took two years to create, largely because Knott’s conceived the animation for the walk-through in-house with a team of four. — Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 25 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for maze

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of maze was in the 14th century

Phrases Containing maze

Rhymes for maze

See All Rhymes for maze

Browse Nearby Words

mazdoor
maze
mazedly
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Maze.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/maze. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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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 How to pronounce maze (audio)
: a path complicated by at least one blind alley and used in learning experiments and in intelligence tests

More from Merriam-Webster on maze

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about maze

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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