as in mysteries
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for head-scratchers
Noun
-
Buoyed by this success, Congress established a series of primate research centers in the nineteen-sixties, hoping that our closest living relatives might help solve other medical mysteries, from Alzheimer’s to Zika.—
Ava Kofman,
New Yorker,
3 Nov. 2025 -
Melissa's mysteries capture interest Hurricane scientists watched with a familiar feeling of dread as Melissa traversed the Caribbean.—
Dinah Voyles Pulver,
USA Today,
2 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Further enigmas can be found elsewhere on public lands, including within state parks, recreational areas, and more.—
Mike Bezemek,
Outside,
29 Oct. 2025
-
Over time, the fate of the footage has become one of the biggest enigmas in Hollywood history.—
Dade Hayes,
Deadline,
5 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Then imagine there are a couple of hundred other people with very similar puzzles, also looking for particular pieces to fit their own jigsaw.—
Idaho Statesman,
Idaho Statesman,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Check out the all new PLAY hub with puzzles, games and more!—
Kaycee Sloan,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
7 Nov. 2025
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.
Cite this Entry
“Head-scratchers.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/head-scratchers. Accessed 15 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share