Thesaurus results for HEAD-SCRATCHER

head-scratcher

noun

ˈhed-ˌskra-chər

as in mystery

something hard to understand or explain why he chose to sink all of his money into a failing business is a real head-scratcher

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Example Sentences

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.

Recent Examples of head-scratcher But that’s not really such a head-scratcher in itself. —

Quanta Magazine, 13 Feb. 2026 This one’s a head-scratcher all the same. —

Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 1 Feb. 2026 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 See All Example Sentences for head-scratcher

Recent Examples of Synonyms for head-scratcher

mystery

Noun

What starts out as a murder mystery set amid Oxford’s dreaming spires becomes a globe-trotting adventure with a very personal angle for Holmes and family.

— Stewart Clarke, Deadline, 12 Mar. 2026
El Niño cycles So scientists went digging for answers to the mystery heat, tapping ideas from volcanoes to the sun to the clouds floating overhead.

— Lauren Sommer, NPR, 12 Mar. 2026