head-scratcher
noun
head-scratch·er
ˈhed-ˌskra-chər 
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
Holly AndersonSynonyms
Examples of head-scratcher in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The theme is a head-scratcher: who thinks of Klimt, with his gold leaf and gorgeous women, as a painter of nature?
—Jackson Arn, The New Yorker, 18 Mar. 2024
When Florence Pugh arrived in a Del Core gown featuring a similar detail, the online head-scratchers amped up the volume of judgmental remarks.
—Laurie Brookins, The Hollywood Reporter, 11 Mar. 2024
The head-scratcher is Best Adapted Screenplay, by Gerwig and Noah Baumbach.
—The New Yorker, 8 Mar. 2024
Why it wasn’t nominated: To be honest, this one is a real head-scratcher.
—Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 7 Mar. 2024
That was a surprise and a head-scratcher to all of us.
—Lesley Goldberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 16 Feb. 2024
What’s more, a number of the bills seem well-intended, but are head-scratchers.
—Erika D. Smith, Los Angeles Times, 2 Feb. 2024
That play, like so many for Minnesota, the West’s top team, was a head-scratcher — a slew of turnovers and fouls keeping the Lakers in the game into the fourth.
—Dan Woike, Los Angeles Times, 31 Dec. 2023
Monét is nominated as best new artist, which is just another head-scratcher for those who have followed her career over the past decade.
—Thania Garcia, Variety, 10 Nov. 2023
Jackson Arn, The New Yorker, 18 Mar. 2024
When Florence Pugh arrived in a Del Core gown featuring a similar detail, the online head-scratchers amped up the volume of judgmental remarks.
—Laurie Brookins, The Hollywood Reporter, 11 Mar. 2024
The head-scratcher is Best Adapted Screenplay, by Gerwig and Noah Baumbach.
—The New Yorker, 8 Mar. 2024
Why it wasn’t nominated: To be honest, this one is a real head-scratcher.
—Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 7 Mar. 2024
That was a surprise and a head-scratcher to all of us.
—Lesley Goldberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 16 Feb. 2024
What’s more, a number of the bills seem well-intended, but are head-scratchers.
—Erika D. Smith, Los Angeles Times, 2 Feb. 2024
That play, like so many for Minnesota, the West’s top team, was a head-scratcher — a slew of turnovers and fouls keeping the Lakers in the game into the fourth.
—Dan Woike, Los Angeles Times, 31 Dec. 2023
Monét is nominated as best new artist, which is just another head-scratcher for those who have followed her career over the past decade.
—Thania Garcia, Variety, 10 Nov. 2023
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.
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 20 Apr. 2024.
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