boggle

verb

bog·​gle ˈbä-gəl 

boggled; boggling ˈbä-g(ə-)liŋ 

intransitive verb

1

: to start with fright or amazement : be overwhelmed

the mind boggles at the research needed

2

: to hesitate because of doubt, fear, or scruples

transitive verb

1

: mishandle, bungle

2

: to overwhelm with wonder or bewilderment

boggle the mind

boggle noun

Synonyms

• blow
• bobble
• bollix (up)
• boot
• botch
• bugger (up)
• bumble
• bungle
• butcher
• dub
• flub
• fluff
• foozle
• foul up
• fumble
• goof (up)
• louse up
• mangle
• mess (up)
• muck up
• muff
• murder
• screw up

Examples of boggle in a Sentence

I boggled my first effort to make homemade pasta

Recent Examples on the Web

When you’re only allowed to play 924 minutes in 365 days, the resulting numbers will boggle an onlooker’s mind. —Jeff Rueter, The Athletic, 14 Jan. 2025

The sheer competency displayed in these eight minutes is boggling to the mind. —Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 14 Aug. 2024

While the idea of redefining reality and exploring parallel universes sounds mind boggling and frankly a little sci-fi, the real-world future of living applications of quantum computing are vast and far-reaching. —Timothy Papandreou, Forbes, 16 Dec. 2024

But the breadth of AI activity in retail is just boggling. —Evan Clark, WWD, 3 Sep. 2019

Word History

Etymology

perhaps from bogle

First Known Use

1598, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Kids Definition

boggle

verb

bog·​gle ˈbä-gəl 

boggled; boggling -g(ə-)liŋ 

1

: to start with fright or amazement

the mind boggles at the effort

2

: to hesitate because of doubt or fear

3

: to overwhelm with wonder or confusion

boggles the mind

boggle noun