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
One of the biggest head-scratching decisions of this past season was seeing the Giants let running back Saquon Barkley go, only to sign with the Super Bowl champion Eagles and have a career year.
—
Matt Robison, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Apr. 2025
There are still sycophants and acolytes, but no savvy producers to make his head-scratching moves appear to make sense.
—Laura Bassett, Rolling Stone, 14 Apr. 2025
The labyrinthine saga dating from 1977, when the original Grove Isle covenant was signed, provokes intense head-scratching.
—Linda Robertson, Miami Herald, 1 Apr. 2025
Along the way, there was an over-the-top, head-scratching marching band interlude and a bloody brawl.
—Mary McNamara, Los Angeles Times, 21 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for head-scratching
Matt Robison, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Apr. 2025
There are still sycophants and acolytes, but no savvy producers to make his head-scratching moves appear to make sense.
—Laura Bassett, Rolling Stone, 14 Apr. 2025
The labyrinthine saga dating from 1977, when the original Grove Isle covenant was signed, provokes intense head-scratching.
—Linda Robertson, Miami Herald, 1 Apr. 2025
Along the way, there was an over-the-top, head-scratching marching band interlude and a bloody brawl.
—Mary McNamara, Los Angeles Times, 21 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for head-scratching
Recent Examples of Synonyms for head-scratching
Noun
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Save us from violence, discord, and confusion; from pride and arrogance, and from every evil way.—
Jeannie Suk Gersen,
New Yorker,
15 May 2025
-
However, severe cases of extremely high blood pressure may lead to symptoms resembling anxiety or panic, such as headache, vision changes, vomiting, confusion, shortness of breath, or chest discomfort or pain.—
Angela Ryan Lee,
Health,
15 May 2025
Noun
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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.—
STAR-TELEGRAM WEATHER BOT,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
7 May 2025
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Fans saw through the fog from the beginning, and each slight felt more telling than the last.—
Charlotte Walsh,
Vulture,
5 May 2025
Noun
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All of our experts agree that silk and satin bonnets protect hair from the harsh friction caused by cotton pillowcases, which can lead to dryness, tangles, frizz, and breakage over time.—
Jailynn Taylor,
Allure,
5 Apr. 2025
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But after the onset of dementia with high tau tangles, anti-tau therapy or one of the many other experimental approaches may be more effective.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
3 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Head-scratching.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/head-scratching. Accessed 21 May. 2025.
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