GLAZE

Online, especially in Gen-Z and gaming slang, glaze means to flatter or hype someone up way too much, often without good reason. It draws a figurative link to the literal meaning of a food glaze—like the sugary coating on a donut—suggesting a layer of excessive sweetness or shininess that might be masking a lack of genuine substance. The term is almost always used critically or mockingly. Being called a "glazer" implies you've lost your objectivity.

Glaze started in gaming and streaming communities on TikTok, Twitch, and X around 2023–2024, but it really took off in 2025. "Glazing" has since become so mainstream that it's almost lost some of its punch. People now often use it more playfully or "self-awarely". You'll even see people saying things like, "I'm glazing but..." before complimenting someone they genuinely admire.

When used to mean "to overpraise or "suck up" to someone," glaze is a slang word. Slang is casual language made up of words, phrases, and expressions that are usually tied to specific situations or certain groups of people. It is the unofficial vocabulary that develops naturally within communities - whether that's your friend group, online spaces, or specific subcultures.