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
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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As Mars pushes against Jupiter, doing too much creates confusion.—
Tarot.com,
Sun Sentinel,
4 May 2026
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But in the confusion and shock of the shutdown, few travelers appeared to notice, or make use of, the offers.—
Gloria Pazmino,
CNN Money,
2 May 2026
Noun
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These sensors enable real-time monitoring across a wide range of conditions, including low light, fog, and obstructed environments, while onboard AI and machine-learning classifiers help identify and flag potential threats.—
Jijo Malayil,
Interesting Engineering,
27 Apr. 2026
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His 2025 tape, WOMB, embodied this through his pensive grumbles over wispy vocal chops; each bar that cut through the fog was steeped in sober gravitas.—
Olivier Lafontant,
Pitchfork,
27 Apr. 2026
Noun
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This can happen due to your natural hair texture, dryness, or environmental stressors like wind, friction from your pillowcase, or pollution—your cuticles can catch on each other like Velcro, Small says, causing tangles.—
Sarah Felbin,
Allure,
26 Apr. 2026
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Across the street, through a thick tangle of forest, the Khodymchuks’ building stood tall and gray in the snow.—
Lizzie Johnson,
New Yorker,
25 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Head-scratching.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/head-scratching. Accessed 8 May. 2026.
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