Standard Lemma guide

boggle

noun · verb · 12 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • UK: /ˈbɒɡ.əl/
  • Canada, US: /ˈbɑ.ɡəl/
  • Australian, New-Zealand: /ˈbɔɡ.əl/
  • Queensland Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • rhymes with -ɒɡəl
  • CMU ARPABET: B AA1 G AH0 L Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

noun

Meaning 1

A scruple or objection.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: dated

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

A bungle; a botched situation.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: dated

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

Alternative form of bogle.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: alt-of, alternative

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

verb

Meaning 4

(literally or figuratively) to stop or hesitate as if suddenly seeing a bogle.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: intransitive, transitive

Examples

  • The dogs went on, but the horse boggled at the sudden appearance of the strange beast.
  • The horror of the deed and its consequences boggle the imagination.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

verb

Meaning 5

To be bewildered, dumbfounded, or confused.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: intransitive

Examples

  • He boggled at the surprising news.
  • The mind boggles.
  • 1795, Mary Wollstonecraft, letter to Gilbert Imlay dated 4 October, 1795, in Mary Wollstonecraft: Letters to Imlay, London: Kegan Paul, 1879, p. 182, From the tenour of your last letter however, I am led to imagine, that you have formed some new attachment.—If it be so, let me earnestly request you to see me once more, and immediately. This is the only proof I require of the friendship you profess for me. I will then decide, since you boggle about a mere form.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

6

verb

Meaning 6

To confuse or mystify; overwhelm.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

Examples

  • The vastness of space really boggles the mind.
  • The oddities of quantum mechanics can boggle the minds of students and experienced physicists alike.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

7

verb

Meaning 7

To embarrass with difficulties; to palter or equivocate; to bungle or botch

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: US, dialectal

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

8

verb

Meaning 8

To dissemble; to play fast and loose (with someone or something).

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: intransitive, obsolete

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

9

verb

Meaning 9

To wiggle the eyes as a result of bruxing.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: intransitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

10

verb

Meaning 10

overcome with amazement

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • This boggles the mind!

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: flabbergast, bowl over

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: surprise

11

verb

Meaning 11

startle with amazement or fear

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: startle, jump, start

12

verb

Meaning 12

hesitate when confronted with a problem, or when in doubt or fear

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: hesitate, waver, waffle

History

Etymology

Variation or derivation of bogle, possibly cognate with bug.

Across languages

Translations

39 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Czech: váhat — to stop or hesitate
  • Czech: zarazit se — to stop or hesitate
  • Bulgarian: стряскам се (strjaskam se) — to be bewildered, dumbfounded, or confused
  • Bulgarian: плаша се (plaša se) — to be bewildered, dumbfounded, or confused
  • Catalan: confondre's — to be bewildered, dumbfounded, or confused
  • Catalan: estar confós — to be bewildered, dumbfounded, or confused
  • Czech: být zmaten — to be bewildered, dumbfounded, or confused
  • Czech: vylekat se — to be bewildered, dumbfounded, or confused
  • Dutch: verbijsterd zijn — to be bewildered, dumbfounded, or confused
  • Dutch: in de war zijn — to be bewildered, dumbfounded, or confused
  • Finnish: tyrmistyä — to be bewildered, dumbfounded, or confused
  • Finnish: kummastua — to be bewildered, dumbfounded, or confused
  • French: être époustouflé — to be bewildered, dumbfounded, or confused
  • French: être confus — to be bewildered, dumbfounded, or confused
  • German: zurückschrecken — to be bewildered, dumbfounded, or confused
  • Russian: пуга́ться (pugátʹsja) — to be bewildered, dumbfounded, or confused
  • Russian: поражаться (poražatʹsja) — to be bewildered, dumbfounded, or confused
  • Russian: ошеломляться (ošelomljatʹsja) — to be bewildered, dumbfounded, or confused
  • Scottish Gaelic: clisg — to be bewildered, dumbfounded, or confused
  • Spanish: atonarse — to be bewildered, dumbfounded, or confused
  • Spanish: pasmarse — to be bewildered, dumbfounded, or confused
  • Spanish: aturdirse — to be bewildered, dumbfounded, or confused
  • Bulgarian: стряскам (strjaskam) — to confuse or mystify; overwhelm
  • Bulgarian: плаша (plaša) — to confuse or mystify; overwhelm
  • Czech: zmást — to confuse or mystify; overwhelm
  • Czech: ohromit — to confuse or mystify; overwhelm
  • Dutch: verwarren — to confuse or mystify; overwhelm
  • Dutch: overdonderen — to confuse or mystify; overwhelm
  • Finnish: tyrmistyttää — to confuse or mystify; overwhelm
  • Finnish: kummastuttaa — to confuse or mystify; overwhelm
  • French: troubler — to confuse or mystify; overwhelm
  • French: épater — to confuse or mystify; overwhelm
  • Russian: поража́ть (poražátʹ) — to confuse or mystify; overwhelm
  • Russian: изумля́ть (izumljátʹ) — to confuse or mystify; overwhelm
  • Russian: ошеломлять (ošelomljatʹ) — to confuse or mystify; overwhelm
  • Scottish Gaelic: breislich — to confuse or mystify; overwhelm
  • Spanish: atonar — to confuse or mystify; overwhelm
  • Spanish: aturdir — to confuse or mystify; overwhelm
  • Spanish: pasmar — to confuse or mystify; overwhelm