head-scratching

1 of 2

noun

head-scratch·​ing ˈhed-ˌskra-chiŋ 

informal

: the act or activity of scratching one's head while pondering or puzzling over something difficult to understand

—used figuratively

Every year, around the middle of October, the finalists for the National Book Awards are announced to general bafflement. Specifically, it's the fiction shortlist that provokes head-scratching.

—Laura Miller

This is, ahem, a very complex scientific process involving a great deal of head-scratching and thoughtful staring.

—Tom Jordan

also : confusion

head-scratching

2 of 2

adjective

informal

: difficult to understand : causing puzzlement or confusion

… the system can lead to head-scratching results …

—Mark Bechtel

… we'll be revisiting some of the best, worst, and most head-scratching moments from our archives.

—Doug Brod

head-scratchingly adverb

head-scratchingly poor decisions

Synonyms

Noun

• confusion
• fog
• tangle

Examples of head-scratching in a Sentence

Noun

poorly worded instructions that must have resulted in a lot of head-scratching

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

To hint at only a few of the head-scratching biographical oddities of Asher’s lives: His father was the physician responsible for identifying and naming Munchausen syndrome. —Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 30 Aug. 2025

Of all the head-scratching mysteries in California, none is more aggravating than the state’s high-speed rail project. —U T Editorial Board, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Aug. 2025

Adjective

In February, the normally intuitive Dallas Mavericks front office went through a mini-run of head-scratching moves. —Mat Issa, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025

While teams have to make some tough calls for talented players, the Pittsburgh Steelers just made a head-scratching cut. —James Brizuela, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Aug. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1832, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1827, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for head-scratching

• attaching
• despatching
• detaching
• dispatching
• mismatching
• batching
• catching
• hatching
• latching
• matching
• patching
• scratching