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goggly

goggly

1 8.1
Having very large eyes that look surprised
  • adjective
  • /ˈɡɑːɡli/
  • Informal
translation icon : con ojos saltones
  • The child wore a funny mask that gave her goggly eyes, making everyone laugh.

Examples

  • And I've got funny goggly eyes.

  • Torpedos with flippers and goggly eyes nursing pups on the beach?

    Fiction book (2001)
  • It doesn't matter whether you think of magic as a potent metaphor, as a notion of reality to be taken literally, or as a willed self-delusion by goggly losers and New Age housewives.

    Blog text (22)
  • When she saw the unexpected gift, her expression turned goggly, as if she couldn't believe her eyes.

  • The cartoon character is known for his goggly eyes that pop out in surprise during funny situations.

Synonyms

wide-eyed
vsgoggly
27 3.4

A person who has eyes open wide because they feel surprised or full of wonder

is less about bulging and more about openness and innocence
googly
vsgoggly
  • Informal
7 8.4

Having large, round eyes that move and look funny

is more playful or silly in tone than a plain bulging look
bug-eye
vsgoggly
4 7.5

Having big eyes that stick out and look surprised

is similar but often used as a compound or hyphenated form
goggle-eyed
vsgoggly
1 7.6

Having eyes wide open because you feel surprised or amazed

is the same idea but is a common variant form
round-eyed
vsgoggly
1 4.8

Having large, open eyes that show surprise or childlike wonder

focuses on roundness and wonder rather than protruding eyes
saucer-eyed
vsgoggly
1 7.2

Having very large round eyes that show surprise

is similar but stresses the round, saucer-like shape
begoggled
vsgoggly
  • Archaic
9.6

Having wide, staring eyes that show surprise

is similar but highlights the sense of being amazed
popeyed
vsgoggly
8.6

Having very wide eyes because you are surprised

is the same bulging look but may be more colloquial
bugeye
vsgoggly
7.9

A person or animal that has very large, round eyes that stick out

emphasizes insect likeness rather than plain surprise
agaze
vsgoggly
  • Archaic
9.9

Having eyes wide open and fixed, often from fear or wonder

focuses on fixed attention rather than bulging appearance
staring
vsgoggly
1.8

Someone's eyes are wide open and fixed on one thing, often from fear or surprise

highlights fixed gaze and focus rather than protruding eyes
starting
vsgoggly
7.5

Having eyes wide and sticking out because of fear or surprise

is similar but the term is rarer or more specialised in use
bogeyed
vsgoggly
  • Archaic
9.9

Having eyes that look strange and frightening like a monster's

adds a scary or unnatural quality beyond plain surprise

How Wide-Eyed

bug-eye
4 7.5
starting
7.5
goggly
  • Informal
1 8.1
wide-eyed
27 3.4

Surface Forms

goggly positive
gogglier comparative
goggliest superlative

Morphology

goggly = goggle (transparent) = goggle + y

The adjective is a straightforward formation meaning 'having the quality of goggling or goggle-like eyes'.

Etymology

Goggly comes from the same idea as goggle and goggles, words about wide, staring eyes or the glasses you wear to cover them. So to be goggly is to have eyes that look 'wide' or 'surprised'.