verb
boggle
BAH-gul/ˈbɑːɡl/
Overwhelm the mind with astonishment or confusion.
The intricate mechanical puzzle seems to boggle the viewer’s mind.
Etymology
From a word for a specter, boggle first described starting with fright, as a horse might. It then meant hesitating before difficulties and causing such hesitation—the bridge to overwhelming or astonishing the mind.
In context
I think I don't think quantum theoretical entanglements boggle the mind quite as much as backwards causation
More examples
- It boggles him that no one noticed the error.
- The enormous cost is enough to boggle anyone.
- Her ability to remember every detail boggled the audience.
Forms
boggle · boggles · boggled · boggling
Similar words
- astound
- Astound stresses great surprise; boggle often suggests that something strains understanding.
- bewilder
- Bewilder confuses; boggle often adds astonishment at complexity or scale.