DictionaryhazeHumiliating initiation
verb

haze

To subject newcomers to humiliating initiation rituals.

Older members haze new recruits by forcing them to perform humiliating tasks.

Etymology

Haze had uses for harassing, driving, or working someone roughly. The initiation sense specializes that treatment: established members subject newcomers to organized humiliation or abuse as a condition of joining.

More examples

  • The fraternity was suspended after its members hazed several freshmen.
  • The coach prohibits hazing, even when players call it a tradition.
  • She refuses to haze new members, even when others pressure her.

Forms

haze · hazes · hazed · hazing

Similar words

bully
Means intimidating or mistreating someone, not necessarily during initiation.
humiliate
Means causing shame, without necessarily involving an initiation ritual.