as in character
a person of odd or whimsical habits
an area of scientific research that's a good niche for social misfits and hard-core head cases
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Recent Examples of head case
My question is, with what AB did to the Raiders, Why would Gruden/Mayock want to take another head case like Jalen Ramsey?
—
Jerry McDonald, The Mercury News, 20 Sep. 2019
Brown is the foremost head case and headache in the NFL.
—BostonGlobe.com, 10 Sep. 2019
Whiteside has a reputation of being a bit of a head case, and also, in need of motivation.
—oregonlive.com, 1 July 2019
One game Kevin Durant is a head case, the next he’s dialed in.
—Scott Ostler, San Francisco Chronicle, 3 June 2018
Here’s a toast to both of them, performing in such relevant games after being written off as hopeless head cases earlier in their careers.
—Bruce Jenkins, San Francisco Chronicle, 31 May 2018
Grant Goodrich of Cleveland, who heads Case Western Reserve University's Great Lakes Energy Institute, collected $72,192 in the quarter, spent $28,273 and had $48,919 in the bank.
—Sabrina Eaton, cleveland.com, 16 Apr. 2018
Then again, the finale may just add to the mystery, and turn not just a few, but every single character into a head case tortured by strange, traumatic visions and memories.
—Kristi Turnquist, OregonLive.com, 12 Apr. 2018
Neither of the Aboutaam brothers has been charged with any wrongdoing related to any of these investigations or to the bull’s head case.
—Georgi Kantchev, WSJ, 27 Sep. 2017
Jerry McDonald, The Mercury News, 20 Sep. 2019
Brown is the foremost head case and headache in the NFL.
—BostonGlobe.com, 10 Sep. 2019
Whiteside has a reputation of being a bit of a head case, and also, in need of motivation.
—oregonlive.com, 1 July 2019
One game Kevin Durant is a head case, the next he’s dialed in.
—Scott Ostler, San Francisco Chronicle, 3 June 2018
Here’s a toast to both of them, performing in such relevant games after being written off as hopeless head cases earlier in their careers.
—Bruce Jenkins, San Francisco Chronicle, 31 May 2018
Grant Goodrich of Cleveland, who heads Case Western Reserve University's Great Lakes Energy Institute, collected $72,192 in the quarter, spent $28,273 and had $48,919 in the bank.
—Sabrina Eaton, cleveland.com, 16 Apr. 2018
Then again, the finale may just add to the mystery, and turn not just a few, but every single character into a head case tortured by strange, traumatic visions and memories.
—Kristi Turnquist, OregonLive.com, 12 Apr. 2018
Neither of the Aboutaam brothers has been charged with any wrongdoing related to any of these investigations or to the bull’s head case.
—Georgi Kantchev, WSJ, 27 Sep. 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for head case
Noun
-
Developed by the team that previously worked on Super Mario Odyssey, the game is packed to the brim with imaginative level design and highly expressive characters.—
Christopher Cruz,
Rolling Stone,
1 July 2025
-
Season two will feature a number of fan-favorite characters reprising their roles, including Mason Alexander Park as Desire, Gwendoline Christie as Lucifer, Vivienne Acheampong as Lucienne, and Patton Oswalt as the voice of Matthew the Raven.—
Abid Rahman,
HollywoodReporter,
1 July 2025
Noun
-
Other characters include outcasts, visionaries and eccentrics — all of whom live on the margins as unseen — a former priest, a girl trapped in working her family’s candy stand, a woman who learned preaching from her brother and is a caretaker for her dying housemate.—
Mary Ann Grossmann,
Twin Cities,
18 May 2025
-
American eccentrics like Walters long have provided material for satirists across the pond.—
Chris Jones,
Chicago Tribune,
11 June 2025
Noun
-
His Tron sequel arrived 28 years after the Disney original, which had revolutionized visual effects back in 1982 with its action-adventure set inside a video game.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
27 June 2025
-
Banijay Asia has successfully localized international formats while developing Indian originals.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
26 June 2025
Noun
-
Mikasa Callie Mikasa Callie Bone China 12 Piece Dinnerware Set, Service for 4 in White $120 $78 Amazon The Mikasa Callie dishware set is a bit of an odd duck.—
Tom Mylan,
Bon Appétit,
26 Feb. 2025
-
Toyne expounds on landing the Palm Royale gig and the musical inspirations for a show in which SNL vet Wiig plays the odd duck who just wants to fit in at a 1969 Palm Beach, Florida high society club.—
Anthony D'Alessandro,
Deadline,
9 Aug. 2024
Noun
-
The Herald found that despite a growing number of properties at risk from flooding as climate change cranks up the dial on rainstorms and hurricanes, Florida fell behind other at-risk states in consumer protections for flood disclosure.—
Alex Harris,
Miami Herald,
25 June 2025
-
Others are situated in the bottom bracket (that is, where the cranks meet the bike frame).—
Michael Venutolo-Mantovani,
Wired News,
20 June 2025
Noun
-
Despite the relative rarity of myocarditis, the condition has underpinned a campaign by anti-vaccine activists to take the vaccines off the market.—
Michael Hiltzik,
Los Angeles Times,
26 June 2025
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This long voyage, together with the rarity and beauty of sapphires, must have contributed to its high value.—
David Bressan,
Forbes.com,
26 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Head case.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/head%20case. Accessed 8 Jul. 2025.
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