HEAD-SCRATCHERS Synonyms: 20 Similar Words

head-scratchers

noun

plural of head-scratcher

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

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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-scratchers The Oscar-winning actor playing Zorro is Jean Dujardin, whose run of awards accolades for The Artist remains one of those peculiar head-scratchers. — Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 30 June 2026 The extraordinary strength of that lineup seems even more pronounced following the conclusion of a 2026 festival that, by consensus and by comparison, was a bit of a disappointment—not without its good and even great films, though with many head-scratchers in between. — Justin Chang, New Yorker, 27 May 2026 Some lineup decisions were head-scratchers, but there was a mandate to try to develop the young guys as much as possible, and Warsofsky gave them a longer leash. — Curtis Pashelka, Mercury News, 24 Apr. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for head-scratchers

Noun

Just bearing witness to the marketing for all these murder-mysteries is enough to make any discerning viewer desperate for Hollywood to hurry up and start chasing the next trend already.

— Ben Travers, IndieWire, 29 July 2026
The anime merely depicts a border spat between a few small nations, whereas the manga is more global in reach and also deals with much of the underlying mysteries of the corrupted world the characters now live in.

— Ollie Barder, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026

Definition of mysteries

Noun

In 2024, now grown and with her adoptive father’s approval, the young woman sets off with a wealthy merchant to piece together the historical enigmas surrounding the ancient Sumpa kingdom.

— Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 20 June 2026
Bob Gray is one of the big enigmas in the book that are intentionally put there to create tension and are never solved.

— Scott Huver, Deadline, 26 Apr. 2026

Definition of enigmas

Noun

Take along complete puzzles in good condition to trade for something new from the collection.

— Eric E. Harrison, Arkansas Online, 29 July 2026
There are also plenty of games and activities for sale in the hotel store, including watercolor kits, colorful punch balloons, activity books, knitting kits, pick-up sticks, puzzles, toys, and more.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 July 2026

Definition of puzzles

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“Head-scratchers.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/head-scratchers. Accessed 3 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of head-scratchers

noun

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