The word "蛊惑" is formed by combining the character "蛊", which originally denotes a poisonous substance or malign influence, often from venomous insects, with "惑", which means to confuse or deceive, derived from its components suggesting doubt in the heart or mind. Together, they create a compound meaning to bewitch, mislead, or instigate through insidious means, directly conveying the idea of poisoning the mind to cause delusion or manipulation.