ほうける
N1呆ける
惚ける耄ける蓬ける
[houkeru]
Meanings
1.IchidanIntransitive
to be mentally slow; to be befuddled
2.Aux-verbIchidan
to become engrossed in; to become absorbed in
3.IchidanIntransitive
to become frayed and dishevelled (of hair, grass, etc.); to be fluffy
Other Readings
「呆ける」 has another reading with different meanings.
Examples
祖父は年を取ってすっかり呆けてしまった。
My grandfather grew old and became completely befuddled.
呆けたふりをして質問をはぐらかした。
He pretended to be absent-minded and evaded the question.
あまりの衝撃に一瞬呆けたように立ち尽くした。
The shock was so great that I stood there for a moment as if in a daze.