head-scratcher

noun

head-scratch·​er ˈhed-ˌskra-chər 

plural head-scratchers

informal

: something that is confusing, mysterious, or hard to understand

Police say the real head-scratcher is trying to determine exactly how the thief or thieves fished the koi from the pond and carted them away unnoticed.

—Associated Press

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

Synonyms of head-scratcher

• mystery

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

But nothing from Kansas or K-State, and that’s been a head-scratcher for fans of those teams. —Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 26 Jan. 2026

The result is a bit of head-scratcher, as the song is a one to one cover with nothing changed, even Kirk Hammett’s iconic solo section, which is especially odd considering Mustaine has admittedly bashed Hammett’s playing over the years. —Quentin Thane Singer, Forbes.com, 23 Jan. 2026

DMV‘s non-renewal is more of a head-scratcher. —Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 22 Jan. 2026

That Mater Dei-Servite head-scratcher is one of a few anomalies in the rankings. —Steve Fryer, Oc Register, 16 Jan. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1902, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for head-scratcher

• dispatcher
• flycatcher
• catcher
• hatcher
• matcher
• stature