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

The singer-songwriter added that most of her romantic relationships blossomed from close friendships, and that the concept of a romance that doesn’t come from a friendship or creative partnership boggles her mind. —Stephen Daw, Billboard, 18 Mar. 2025

In foreign affairs, meanwhile, the confusion that Trump has created in a few short weeks boggles the geopolitical mind. —Susan B. Glasser, The New Yorker, 13 Mar. 2025

But funding one to fresh debt, when one of America’s top exports is already government debt, boggles the mind. —William Pesek, Forbes, 21 Feb. 2025

The whole thing was absolutely mind boggling to me. —Esther Kang, People.com, 12 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

perhaps from bogle

First Known Use

1598, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Rhymes for boggle

• goggle
• moghul
• toggle

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