Thesaurus results for HEAD-SCRATCHER

head-scratcher

noun

ˈhed-ˌskra-chər

Definition of head-scratcher

as in mystery

something hard to understand or explain why he chose to sink all of his money into a failing business is a real head-scratcher

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of head-scratcher The 2026 Cannes Film Festival was a little quieter than previous editions, to be sure—there was a dearth of Hollywood blockbusters, some more middling work from respected auteurs, and a few genuine head-scratchers. — Radhika Seth, Vogue, 23 May 2026 The gum on the pants, however, was a head-scratcher. — Chanel Vargas, InStyle, 22 May 2026 Yes, recent home pricing strength is a bit of a head-scratcher in an era of lofty mortgage rates and a shaky economy. — Jonathan Lansner, Oc Register, 22 May 2026 Some even suggested galaxies could still be chock-full of gas but somehow not forming stars, which would be a real head-scratcher for anyone trying to understand stellar nurseries. — Paul Sutter, Space.com, 25 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for head-scratcher

Recent Examples of Synonyms for head-scratcher

mystery

Noun

The aesthetic details of what will happen beyond the loading docks have been shrouded in mystery.

— Meriam Bouarrouj, NBC news, 4 July 2026
Now, the historical society hopes community members hold the final missing pieces to the mystery.

— Rebekah Riess, CNN Money, 4 July 2026

Definition of mystery

Browse Nearby Words

heads

head-scratcher

head-scratchers

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Head-scratcher.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/head-scratcher. Accessed 11 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of head-scratcher

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

xeric

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

Popular in Wordplay

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

The Words of the Week - Jul 10

Popular

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

Games & Quizzes