Blurred vs. Hazy — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman & Maham Liaqat — Updated on April 8, 2024
Blurred focuses on a lack of visual clarity, often implying distortion, while hazy describes a diffuse or misty obscuration, typically due to atmospheric conditions.
Difference Between Blurred and Hazy
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Blurred imagery is the result of a specific distortion or lack of focus in an image, causing details to merge indistinctly. On the other hand, hazy conditions are characterized by a diffuse or mist-like obscuration that diffuses light and reduces visibility, often due to atmospheric particles or moisture.
Blurred vision can result from factors close to the eye, such as lens smudges or eye health issues, affecting how clearly individual objects are seen. Whereas hazy conditions are typically environmental, resulting from airborne particles, pollution, or moisture that uniformly affects the clarity of the entire landscape or scene.
In photography, a blurred effect is often created intentionally via techniques like motion blur or shallow depth of field to isolate subjects from their background. In contrast, hazy effects can be introduced by atmospheric conditions such as fog, dust, or smog, adding a layer of atmosphere to the scene without necessarily altering the focus on specific objects.
Blurred text on a page makes it difficult to discern individual letters or words, often due to poor printing or smearing. Conversely, hazy vision might make the entire page look uniformly foggy or misty, but not necessarily distort the shape of the text itself.
In metaphorical use, blurred often describes situations or concepts that lack clear distinctions or boundaries. Meanwhile, hazy metaphorically refers to situations or memories that are unclear or poorly remembered, as if viewed through a mist.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
Lacking sharpness or clarity of visual detail
Indistinct or obscured by haze
Cause
Focus issues, motion, or optical distortion
Atmospheric conditions like dust, fog, or smoke
Impact on Visibility
Specific objects or areas are unclear
General reduction in clarity or contrast
Common Associations
Smudges, tears, camera focus
Atmospheric conditions, air quality
Metaphorical Use
Lack of clear distinctions
Unclear memories or general obscurity
Compare with Definitions
Blurred
To make or become unclear or less distinct.
Rain blurred the landscape.
Hazy
Covered by a haze.
The city skyline looked hazy because of the pollution.
Blurred
Lacking in visual clarity.
The photo was blurred due to the camera's shake.
Hazy
Vague or ill-defined.
His memories of the event were hazy at best.
Blurred
Distorted or unclear representation.
His vision was blurred from tears.
Hazy
Lacking clarity or distinctness.
The hazy weather made driving difficult.
Blurred
Difficult to understand or remember.
The details of that night are blurred in his memory.
Hazy
Obscured by a diffuse light or slight darkness.
The room was filled with hazy sunlight.
Blurred
Not clearly defined or easy to perceive.
The lines between genres are often blurred.
Hazy
Marked by the presence of haze; misty
Hazy sunshine.
Blurred
To make indistinct and hazy in outline or appearance; obscure
The haze blurred the skyline.
Hazy
Unclear, confused, or uncertain
I have only a hazy notion of what she wants. I'm a bit hazy on the new budget.
Blurred
To make dim, unclear, or cloudy
The smoke blurred my vision.
Hazy
Thick or obscured with haze.
A hazy view of the polluted city street
Blurred
To cause to be intellectually indistinguishable
New thinking has blurred the divisions between disciplines.
Hazy
Not clear or transparent.
Blurred
To become visually indistinct
The faces blurred in the crowd.
Hazy
Obscure; confused; not clear.
A hazy argument
A hazy intellect
Blurred
To be unclear or clouded
His vision blurred as the drug took effect.
Hazy
Thick with haze; somewhat obscured with haze; not clear or transparent.
Blurred
To become intellectually indistinguishable
TV commercials and shows seem to blur into one another.
Hazy
Obscure; confused; not clear; as, a hazy argument; a hazy intellect.
Blurred
Something that is hazy and indistinct to the sight or mind.
Hazy
Filled or abounding with fog or mist;
A brumous October morning
Blurred
Out of focus; partially obscured; smudged.
Hazy
Indistinct or hazy in outline;
A landscape of blurred outlines
The trees were just blurry shapes
Blurred
Simple past tense and past participle of blur
Blurred
Out of focus; not sharply defined.
Blurred
Indistinct or hazy in outline;
A landscape of blurred outlines
The trees were just blurry shapes
Blurred
Unclear in form or expression;
The blurred aims of the group
Sometimes one understood clearly and sometimes the meaning was clouded
Common Curiosities
What are common causes of hazy conditions?
Hazy conditions are commonly caused by atmospheric particles like dust, fog, or smoke.
What causes blurred vision?
Blurred vision is typically caused by focus issues, motion, or optical distortions affecting specific objects or areas.
Can blurred effects be intentional in photography?
Yes, photographers often use techniques like motion blur or shallow depth of field to create blurred effects intentionally.
How do blurred and hazy differ in terms of visibility?
Blurred affects the clarity of specific objects, whereas hazy affects the overall visibility across a scene.
Are blurred and hazy conditions always negative?
Not always; both can add artistic or atmospheric effects in photography and art.
What does it mean when memories are described as hazy?
It means the memories are unclear, vague, or poorly remembered, as if obscured by mist.
Does hazy weather affect outdoor activities?
Hazy weather can reduce visibility and air quality, impacting outdoor activities and health.
Can glasses correct blurred vision?
Glasses can correct many causes of blurred vision, such as focus issues or refractive errors.
How can hazy conditions be mitigated in photography?
Photographers can use filters or post-processing techniques to reduce the appearance of haze.
Can the term "blurred" apply to non-visual contexts?
Yes, it can describe situations or concepts with unclear distinctions or boundaries.
Is hazy the same as foggy?
While similar, hazy refers to a lighter, more diffuse obscuration, whereas foggy implies a denser, more opaque condition.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Maham Liaqat
