startle with amazement or fear

overcome with amazement; " This boggles the mind!"

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

To stop or hesitate as if suddenly frightened, or in doubt, or impeded by unforeseen difficulties; to take alarm; to exhibit hesitancy and indecision.

To do anything awkwardly or unskillfully.

To play fast and loose; to dissemble.

To embarrass with difficulties; to make a bungle or botch of.

To hesitate; waver; act clumsily; bungle.

To make a bungle of.

To stop or hesitate, as if at a bogle: to make difficulties about a thing; also to embarrass. ( Amer.).

To hesitate; make objections.

To bungle; hesitate; quibble.

To stop, as if afraid to proceed; to waver; to dissemble. See Bogle.

To doubt; to hesitate; to waver; to make difficulties over a matter.

I will then decide, since you boggle about a mere form. – The Love Letters of Mary Wollstonecraft to Gilbert Imlay by Mary Wollstonecraft Roger Ingpen

Does Mr. Max Muller, so strict about evidence, boggle at the stone house, the only son, the shrimp? – Modern Mythology by Andrew Lang

Not to boggle at this matter, the two cousins, at John's instigation, had contrived a simple villainy. – VC -- A Chronicle of Castle Barfield and of the Crimea by David Christie Murray

Now, look here, Claire, it's of no use for you to boggle about it, because you must help me. – The Master of the Ceremonies by George Manville Fenn

After all, was it not a little absurd to boggle over one small deception when the whole enterprise, as now suddenly revealed, was to be nothing but one continuous and colossal one? – Captivating Mary Carstairs by Henry Sydnor Harrison

They do not boggle over such news if it conforms to their stereotypes, and they continue to read it if it interests them. – Public Opinion by Walter Lippmann

Ye might boggle it by yersel'. – The Eye of Dread by Payne Erskine

In fact, to Mary, who had not seen her for the past few months, she appeared so experienced and grown- up, as she came into the room to meet her, that that young person felt all at once very young and awkward, and as a consequence made such a boggle of what she had to say, that Marian, entirely misunderstanding, exclaimed in amazement,- You want me to get up an April joke on my birthday, Mary? – A Flock of Girls and Boys by Nora Perry

But to relieve your mind of such doubts as I see you entertain, I can assure you that it is out of no motives of weakness that I boggle at this combat. – The Lion's Skin by Rafael Sabatini

She'll boggle at simony every time. – Lalage's Lovers 1911 by George A. Birmingham

But Doggie was not one to boggle at the truth, as he saw it. – The Rough Road by William John Locke

The simultaneous speech of Cecily and Gwendolen is no insult to our intelligence, nor do we boggle for a moment over the delightful impossibility of Lane. – Oscar Wilde A Critical Study by Arthur Ransome

Your reputation, both as a scientist and as an unraveller of tangled skeins, is too good for me to boggle about your methods. – Astounding Stories of Super-Science April 1930 by Various

We shall round that bay in a few seconds, and they will be sure to boggle into it. – The-New-McGuffey-Fourth-Reader by McGuffey, William Holmes

Pride will not allow him to boggle over bargains. – A Poor Man's House by Stephen Sydney Reynolds

When people have understood you very adequately for ten years you do not expect them to boggle at any problem you may present at the end of the decade. – The Pool in the Desert by Sara Jeanette Duncan

If you boggle here, I say no more; This is the very Quintessence of Trade, And ev'ry Hope of Gain depends upon it; None who neglect it ever did grow rich, Or ever will, or can by Indian Commerce. – The Conspiracy of Pontiac and the Indian War after the Conquest of Canada by Francis Parkman

Now as a horse can swim faster than a man, and is of course heavier in the water, the leader has no easy task even if the horse swim honestly for the opposite bank, but should he turn back or boggle at all, man and line are alike powerless; the use of the rudder therefore will be seen. – The Overland Expedition of The Messrs. Jardine by Frank Jardine and Alexander Jardine

And so that it ties within my wretched power I swear I'll never boggle at it. – The Sea-Hawk by Raphael Sabatini