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

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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 Yet seemingly out of desperation, the nominees also have included total head-scratchers like Coldplay, Florence + the Machine, Matchbox Twenty, the Eagles — the fuckin’ Eagles, man! — Jem Aswad, Variety, 8 Oct. 2026 That executive pointed to a few of Stearns’ deals that proved to be head-scratchers, such as the contracts for Frankie Montas and Sean Manaea ahead of the 2025 season. — Tim Britton, New York Times, 30 Sep. 2026 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

There are more mysteries to unfurl in future episodes of Pet Cemetery Murders, starting with the isolated Grey Gardens–esque dynamic between Dorothy and her own mother, Grace, who opened the pet cemetery in 1946.

— Savannah Walsh, Vanity Fair, 12 Oct. 2026
As Halzen and countless other scientists have found over the years, Antarctica’s extreme conditions serve as a crucial gateway to understanding some of the greatest mysteries of the cosmos.

— Daniella McCahey, The Conversation, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of mysteries

Noun

PBHs could help resolve other enigmas, too, for instance by acting as seeds for the rapid growth of supermassive black holes in the early universe.

— Jonathan O'Callaghan, Scientific American, 2 Oct. 2026
Its findings could also unlock clues about dark energy and dark matter, and some of the universe’s biggest enigmas.

— Denise Chow, NBC news, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of enigmas

Noun

Unfortunately, Jenna sucks at puzzles, and Christian (who the editors are still not allowing to talk) is great at them.

— Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 8 Oct. 2026
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters Join more than 350,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.

— Irenie Forshaw, TheWeek, 30 Sep. 2026

Definition of puzzles

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head-scratchers

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“Head-scratchers.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/head-scratchers. Accessed 13 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of head-scratchers

noun

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