mind-boggling

[mahynd-bog-ling]

adjective

Slang.

1. intellectually overwhelming.

   a mind-boggling puzzle.

2. emotionally or psychologically overwhelming; mind-blowing.

mind-boggling

adjective

1. informal,  astonishing; bewildering

Other Word Forms

• mind-bogglingly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of mind-boggling¹

First recorded in 1960–65

Example Sentences

When the dust settled, after a last-second interception sealed a 30-24 Ducks win, the teams had combined for a mind-boggling 41 points over the final period and the two overtimes.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

He added that the Ethiopian ruling party's "obsession" with the Red Sea and River Nile was "bizarre and mind-boggling by all standards".

Read more on BBC

Therefore, the impact of another 16 teams joining the fray is rather mind-boggling.

Read more on BBC

All reveal not just a mind-boggling collection of talent but how relevant the work is today, when our built world feels so predictable, artificial and wasteful.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Considering how polished he was as an NFL player, it’s mind-boggling he achieved what he did without the practice and polish of college football.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• amazing 
• astonishing 
• breathtaking 
• spectacular 
• staggering 
• startling 
• stunning 
• surprising 
• wonderful 

When To Use

What does mind-boggling mean?

Mind-boggling means utterly overwhelming to the mind or extremely difficult to understand or comprehend.The verb boggle means to overwhelm or bewilder, such as with complexity or abnormality.Things are often described as mind-boggling when they’re incredibly complex or exist on a scale that’s impossible to comprehend or “wrap your head around.”A similar term is mind-blowing. Mind-blowing is usually used to describe things that are impressive, whereas mind-boggling usually describes things that are confusing or hard to even think about. Still, the terms are often used interchangeably.The related verb phrase boggle the mind means to astound or be incomprehensible, as in His behavior really boggles the mind sometimes—I can’t begin to understand his motivation for doing the things he does.  Example: The size and scale of the universe is mind-boggling—it’s impossible to grasp its magnitude.