head-scratcher

noun

head-scratch·​er ˈhed-ˌskra-chər How to pronounce head-scratcher (audio)
plural head-scratchers
informal
: something that is confusing, mysterious, or hard to understand
We love college football for nothing if not the belief—hope even—that at any moment the unexpected could happen. Young as it is, this season has already provided its share of jaw-droppers and head-scratchers.Holly Anderson

Examples of head-scratcher in a Sentence

why he chose to sink all of his money into a failing business is a real head-scratcher
Recent Examples on the Web Here's the biggest head-scratcher: Because Anna lives at the same time as both Ellie's stepsister and her grandmother, Daniel is both Ellie's stepdad and her great-grandfather. Nick Romano, EW.com, 10 Oct. 2024 Mainland China ETFs with Shanghai and Shenzhen stocks had risen above the 10% daily limit up, and the STAR Board above their 20% daily limit up, which was a bit of a head-scratcher. Brendan Ahern, Forbes, 9 Oct. 2024 But as is often the case with the DMV, Monday’s announcement was a bit of a head-scratcher, coming after months of attempts by the agency to update its mess of a website and clarify the multiple test-taking options for older drivers. Steve Lopez, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2024 Either way, that performance was truly a head-scratcher. Nick Caruso, TVLine, 18 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for head-scratcher 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'head-scratcher.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1902, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of head-scratcher was in 1902

Dictionary Entries Near head-scratcher

Cite this Entry

“Head-scratcher.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/head-scratcher. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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