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
Draymond Green then committed a head-scratching foul on Jalen Smith while up by two with 1.4 seconds remaining.
—
Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 11 Mar. 2026
The mediocre Queen biopic remains one of the most head-scratching best picture nominees in recent memory.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 9 Mar. 2026
The infielder was mocked on social media after a head-scratching baserunning blunder against his former team, the Miami Marlins, in August.
—Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 6 Mar. 2026
In one of several head-scratching market developments of the week, ServiceNow’s stock was hammered even though the company reported strong results in just about every relevant metric.
—Melody Brue, Forbes.com, 4 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for head-scratching
Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 11 Mar. 2026
The mediocre Queen biopic remains one of the most head-scratching best picture nominees in recent memory.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 9 Mar. 2026
The infielder was mocked on social media after a head-scratching baserunning blunder against his former team, the Miami Marlins, in August.
—Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 6 Mar. 2026
In one of several head-scratching market developments of the week, ServiceNow’s stock was hammered even though the company reported strong results in just about every relevant metric.
—Melody Brue, Forbes.com, 4 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for head-scratching
Recent Examples of Synonyms for head-scratching
Noun
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The vast range of difficulty and rigor in academic assessment adds confusion for both learners and employers.—
Bryan Penprase,
Forbes.com,
31 May 2026
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The Holii Travel Pill Organizer is compact enough to fit in a car compartment or backpack, and securely separates daily doses of medications in order to avoid any confusion on busy travel days.—
Sophie Dodd,
Travel + Leisure,
31 May 2026
Noun
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The splashing water captured by the camera is abstracted into a nebulous fog that dissolves the profile of a Parisian bridge in the background.—
Erika Landström,
Artforum,
2 June 2026
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In extremely dense fog where visibility is near zero, the best course of action is to first turn on your hazard lights, then simply pull into a safe location such as a parking lot of a local business, and stop.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
2 June 2026
Noun
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One of Seattle’s must-visit attractions is Pike Place Market, a sprawling tangle of shops, restaurants, and produce stands.—
Harry Cheadle,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
27 May 2026
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San Antonio’s half-court offense continues to operate in a tangle of Thunder defenders that has taken the Spurs out of their comfort zone.—
Darnell Mayberry,
New York Times,
27 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Head-scratching.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/head-scratching. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.
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