mind-bendern.
/ˈmʌɪn(d)ˌbɛndə/, U.S. /ˈmaɪn(d)ˌbɛndər/ 1.
a. A person who, or thing which, influences, alters, or profoundly affects one's mood or way of thinking; a brainwasher.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > belief > suggestion, proposal > [noun] > one who suggests > by brainwashing
brainwasher1952
mind-bender1963
the mind > mental capacity > belief > suggestion, proposal > [noun] > one who suggests > thing
mind-bender1990
1963 J. Kennaway Mind Benders xxv. 158 Oonagh has said that there were instincts in man laid too deep for the most skilful mind-bender to probe.
1966 New Scientist 15 Dec. 639/3 The mind-bender, a persuasive person who, for subversive political purposes or financial gain (often both), bends others to his will. Increasingly, he employs drugs, particularly of the hallucinogen group.
1985 Time (Electronic ed.) 8 July Now consider these plots. A wily misfit takes on the mind benders in an Oregon psychiatric hospital (Cuckoo's Nest).
1990 Fortune (Electronic ed.) 19 Nov. By 2030 you may even discover that it is a mind-bender to be nice to everybody!
b. spec. A psychedelic drug.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > use of drugs and poison > an intoxicating drug > [noun] > hallucinogenic drug
delirifacient1842
deliriant1858
delirant1872
mind-expander1875
mind-changer1931
phantastica1931
hallucinogen1954
hallucinant1964
utopiate1964
mind-bender1967
1967 Sci. News Let. 22 July 80 STP is a new, untested drug, resembling both amphetamine pep pills and the active ingredient in mescaline, the cactus-derived mind-bender.
1982 J. Hopper Mind Tripping in O. Davies Omni Bk. of Paranormal & Mind v. xxvi. 291 The ideal mind-bender must be absolutely nontoxic, pharmacologically pure, and capable of having the visions it produces turned on and off at will.
1986 Time (Electronic ed.) 15 Sept. 60 The ancient Aztecs took ololiuqui (similar to LSD), peyote, marijuana and other mind benders.
1996 C. Higson Getting Rid of Mr Kitchen xviii. 199 These days I look after myself, I hardly take any drugs at all, certainly not any of the mind-benders, just enough sweeteners to keep me going.
2. A thing which challenges one's mental faculties; spec. a mental puzzle.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > secrecy, concealment > a profound secret, mystery > puzzle, enigma, riddle > [noun]
riddleOE
purposec1350
problema1382
propositiona1382
conclusion1393
divinailc1430
opposal?a1439
riddling?c1475
wordc1480
why1532
dark, hard sentence1535
enigma1539
remblere1599
puzzlement1646
gripha1652
puzzler1651
riddlemy riddlemy1652
puzzle1655
crux1718
teaser1759
puzzleation1767
conundrum1790
poser1793
riddle-me-ree1805
stumper1807
tickler1825
sticker1849
brain-teaser1850
grueller1856
question mark1870
brain-twister1878
skull-buster1926
mind-bender1968
1968 Mensa Jrnl. Sept. 8/1 (heading) Mensa Mindbender No. 1 by Machiavelli.
1971 N. E. Scripture (title) Mind-benders.
1983 Contemp. Sociol. 12 703 Kenwyn K. Smith's ‘Philosophical Problems in Thinking about Organizational Change’ constitutes the best ‘mind-bender’.
1986 Jrnl. Philos. Jan. (advt.) The last part consists of short statements of famous philosophical mind-benders, including Zeno's paradoxes, the Prisoner's Dilemma, the Paradox of Surprise Examination, and others.
1998 Essence (Electronic ed.) June 36 Familiar mind-benders like jeopardy, Scrabble, chess and bridge improve concentration, perception and reasoning.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2002; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1963