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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Recent Examples of head-scratching
Getty Images In February, the normally intuitive Dallas Mavericks front office went through a mini-run of head-scratching moves.
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Mat Issa, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
To hint at only a few of the head-scratching biographical oddities of Asher’s lives: His father was the physician responsible for identifying and naming Munchausen syndrome.
—Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 30 Aug. 2025
Of all the head-scratching mysteries in California, none is more aggravating than the state’s high-speed rail project.
—U T Editorial Board, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Aug. 2025
Lil Wayne’s Ruoff stop on his Tha Carter VI tour — which runs until early October and includes stops in 36 North American cities — was a yo-yo of a thing, with thrilling highs and head-scratching lows.
—Heather Bushman, IndyStar, 18 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for head-scratching
Mat Issa, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
To hint at only a few of the head-scratching biographical oddities of Asher’s lives: His father was the physician responsible for identifying and naming Munchausen syndrome.
—Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 30 Aug. 2025
Of all the head-scratching mysteries in California, none is more aggravating than the state’s high-speed rail project.
—U T Editorial Board, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Aug. 2025
Lil Wayne’s Ruoff stop on his Tha Carter VI tour — which runs until early October and includes stops in 36 North American cities — was a yo-yo of a thing, with thrilling highs and head-scratching lows.
—Heather Bushman, IndyStar, 18 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for head-scratching
Recent Examples of Synonyms for head-scratching
Noun
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First, your confusion is kind of the point ‒ today's slang is part of an ever-changing lexicon that separates the young from the young-at-heart.—
Phaedra Trethan,
USA Today,
5 Oct. 2025
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The Department of Homeland Security has detained hundreds of TPS holders from Venezuela nationwide, creating confusion about how the protections are being applied.—
Syra Ortiz Blanes,
Miami Herald,
4 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Mercury’s retrograde ends on the 7th and will help clear up any misunderstandings or mental fog that have kept you stuck in the wrong dynamics for too long.—
Meghan Rose,
Glamour,
1 Oct. 2025
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But as early as 1892, scientists have noted that tiny droplets of water in the air can be positively or negatively charged in situations such as waterfall spray or fog.—
Rachel Nuwer,
Scientific American,
29 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Millions of miles of flying feels like an adequate amount of time to observe travelers struggle with bulky items, search endlessly for a gadget in a tangle of monochromatic accessories, and look longingly at their seatmate who seems to have it all together.—
Carin Ryan,
Travel + Leisure,
4 Oct. 2025
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Whether the Northen Sea Route catches on depends on a tangle of factors.—
Laura Paddison,
CNN Money,
3 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Head-scratching.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/head-scratching. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.
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