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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
One of the dumbest Marmol decisions in a career full of head-scratchers. Katie Woo, New York Times, 20 June 2025 Cooper Neill/Getty Images The Eagles' decision to move on from CJ Gardner-Johnson at the start of the offseason was a bit of a head-scratcher at the time. Justin Grasso, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 June 2025 While Utah is blessed with stunning landscapes and tremendous natural resources (home to five national parks), understanding how the sale of millions of acres of federal lands might be part of a solution to the affordable housing crisis in that state is seen as a head-scratcher by many. Chris Dorsey, Forbes.com, 16 June 2025 Oakmont has hosted this tournament 10 times, and the glass-like greens and extremely thick rough can always turn head-scratchers into all-out fits of rage. Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 15 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for head-scratcher

Word History

First Known Use

1902, in the meaning defined above

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

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Cite this Entry

“Head-scratcher.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/head-scratcher. Accessed 27 Jun. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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