boggle

[ bog-uhl ]

/ ˈbɒg əl /

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See synonyms for: boggle / boggled on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object), bog·gled, bog·gling.

to overwhelm or bewilder, as with magnitude, complexity, or strangeness: The speed of light boggles the mind.

to bungle; botch.

verb (used without object), bog·gled, bog·gling.

to hesitate or waver because of scruples, fear, etc.

to start or jump with fear, alarm, or surprise; shrink; shy.

to bungle awkwardly.

to be overwhelmed or bewildered.

noun

an act of shying or taking alarm.

a mess; a bungle or botch.

Archaic. a scruple; demur; hesitation.

QUIZ

THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?

Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.

Question 1 of 7

In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

candystring

candyfloss

candypuff

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of boggle

First recorded in 1590–1600; perhaps from bogle

OTHER WORDS FROM boggle

bog·gling·ly, adverb

How to use boggle in a sentence

A Surveillance State that would have boggled the mind of Orwell was born.
Snowden Deserves the Medal of Freedom, Not Prosecution|Jay Parini|June 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Jessica Colaluca, creator and creative of Design Seeds: “It boggled my mind.”
Lena Dunham’s 'I'm thin for, like, Detroit’ Comment Gets Motowners Fired Up|Abby Haglage|January 18, 2013|DAILY BEAST
I am above concealing my sentiments, though I have boggled at uttering them.
Mary Wollstonecraft|Elizabeth Robins Pennell
The inspector boggled at the word, and stood confounded by the other's density.
Peccavi|E. W. Hornung

He boggled over some of the words, but on the whole he read well, and his harsh voice dropped into a pleasant sing-song.
The Path of the King|John Buchan
He tried the cloak next, but boggled sadly at the fastening of that, and at last was fain to call in help.
The Wide, Wide World|Susan Warner
This seemed to him an odd way to look at things, and he boggled over a phrase about an "epicene lily."
Huntingtower|John Buchan

British Dictionary definitions for boggle

boggle

/ (ˈbɒɡəl) /

verb (intr often foll by at)

to be surprised, confused, or alarmed (esp in the phrase the mind boggles)

to hesitate or be evasive when confronted with a problem

(tr) to baffle; bewilder; puzzle

Word Origin for boggle

C16: probably variant of bogle 1

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

boggle

Origin of boggle

OTHER WORDS FROM boggle

Words related to boggle

How to use boggle in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for boggle

Word Origin for boggle