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
The Giants had their share of head-scratching moments during the game.
—
Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 2 Dec. 2025
And head-scratching inefficiency for long stretches.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 1 Dec. 2025
The quirky show just debuted on Apple TV on Nov. 7, 2025 and its myriad head-scratching mysteries are causing quite a pop culture stir.
—Jeff Spry, Space.com, 14 Nov. 2025
The Dallas Cowboys have made some head-scratching moves in 2025 dating back to the preseason, which have both strengthened the interior of the defensive line but also added confusion about the future of the unit.
—Max Dible, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for head-scratching
Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 2 Dec. 2025
And head-scratching inefficiency for long stretches.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 1 Dec. 2025
The quirky show just debuted on Apple TV on Nov. 7, 2025 and its myriad head-scratching mysteries are causing quite a pop culture stir.
—Jeff Spry, Space.com, 14 Nov. 2025
The Dallas Cowboys have made some head-scratching moves in 2025 dating back to the preseason, which have both strengthened the interior of the defensive line but also added confusion about the future of the unit.
—Max Dible, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for head-scratching
Recent Examples of Synonyms for head-scratching
Noun
-
Michelle Sparck, director of Get Out the Native Vote, a nonpartisan voting rights advocacy group affiliated with the Alaska Federation of Natives, worries about creating confusion and fear among voters.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
22 Mar. 2026
-
Other passengers described confusion and disorganization within the lines themselves.—
Jared Eggleston,
CBS News,
22 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Some patchy inland fog was also possible, mainly across the interior and over on the southwestern coast of Florida.—
Lissette Gonzalez,
CBS News,
24 Mar. 2026
-
Where my world was hemmed in by ridgelines and holler roads, Mary Lennox’s world was hemmed in by fog and wind and the low moan of a manor house that seemed to breathe on its own.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
23 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
But every week could bring a new philosophical-technical tangle.—
Eric Boodman,
Vulture,
25 Mar. 2026
-
Florida’s chances of winning a mid-January game at Vanderbilt were slipping when video coordinator Nolan Crist spotted an on-court tangle.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
25 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Head-scratching.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/head-scratching. Accessed 28 Mar. 2026.
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