as in confusion
a state of mental uncertainty
poorly worded instructions that must have resulted in a lot of head-scratching
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of head-scratching
If that stretch wasn’t enough, Florida returned to another head-scratching theme — an inability to field 11 players — in the fourth quarter.
—
Matt Baker, New York Times, 19 Oct. 2025
Riley’s most head-scratching play call of the season appeared early in the fourth quarter, with rain steadily falling on Notre Dame Stadium.
—Haley Sawyer, Oc Register, 19 Oct. 2025
Adding a running back at the right price wouldn't be a bad idea, but choosing to target that position over defense is just a head-scratching proposition.
—James Brizuela, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Oct. 2025
Nix is certainly one of them, with a couple of head-scratching incompletions on third down in the second half.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 12 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for head-scratching
Matt Baker, New York Times, 19 Oct. 2025
Riley’s most head-scratching play call of the season appeared early in the fourth quarter, with rain steadily falling on Notre Dame Stadium.
—Haley Sawyer, Oc Register, 19 Oct. 2025
Adding a running back at the right price wouldn't be a bad idea, but choosing to target that position over defense is just a head-scratching proposition.
—James Brizuela, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Oct. 2025
Nix is certainly one of them, with a couple of head-scratching incompletions on third down in the second half.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 12 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for head-scratching
Recent Examples of Synonyms for head-scratching
Noun
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The abrupt departure stunned the crowd, prompting confusion both in the audience and among his bandmates.—
Jessica Lynch,
Billboard,
25 Oct. 2025
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Teddy’s reasoning is a confusion of save-the-world alarmism, garden-variety derangement, unhealed trauma, and single-minded revenge.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
24 Oct. 2025
Noun
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About 15 miles away, a National Geographic cruise ship carrying around 150 passengers and crew started to move backward, pulled by suddenly shifting currents through an eerie fog.—
Ella Nilsen,
CNN Money,
22 Oct. 2025
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Patchy dense fog will result in sudden changes in visibility.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
21 Oct. 2025
Noun
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What is normal in the state of dementia, where connections are not being made, where tangle is all, objects take on a curious aspect, and where there is an unpleasant flavor to the hours?—
Joy Williams,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Oct. 2025
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In a yarn shop, a tangle of tariffs Sara Heckman’s shop Apricot Yarn & Supply sells yarn from around the world.—
Roxana Popescu,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
23 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Head-scratching.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/head-scratching. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.
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