boggle

1 of 2

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

boggle

2 of 2

noun

bog·​gle ˈbä-gəl 

less common variant of bogle

dialectal British

: goblin, specter

also : an object of fear or loathing

Synonyms of boggle

Verb

• blow
• fumble
• ruin
• spoil

Examples of boggle in a Sentence

Verb

I boggled my first effort to make homemade pasta

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Hamaguchi told Deadline that the team painstakingly cemented Vincent and Yuffie into irrevocable mainstays while also giving Zack (not available in my preview) an increasingly important role in the trilogy’s larger time-boggling mystery. — Destiny Jackson, Deadline, 10 Sep. 2026

As with the Qatari case, the Kuwaiti decision boggles the mind, especially when tankers could be used to ferry valuable crude rather than becoming scrap. — Mohammed Sergie, semafor.com, 10 Sep. 2026

The line of aircraft coming in for a landing looks mind boggling to handle but the ATC’s do it without incident. — Joe Kinsey Outkick, FOXNews.com, 18 Aug. 2026

Why someone would want a plush Javert, even in bear form, boggles the mind. — Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 30 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

perhaps from bogle

First Known Use

Verb

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