as in confusion
a state of mental uncertainty
poorly worded instructions that must have resulted in a lot of head-scratching
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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-scratching
It came wrapped in the same bow, ultimately, as the other 40: a jumbled box of hanging deliveries and head-scratching fundamental mistakes.
—
Luca Evans, Denver Post, 21 May 2025
Minnesota has high highs as a team but low lows and can play head-scratching basketball at times.
—The Athletic Nba Staff, New York Times, 20 May 2025
Ars published a story a few months ago on spaceflight patches from NASA, SpaceX, Russia, and the NRO, the US government's spy satellite agency, which is responsible for some of the most head-scratching mission logos.
—ArsTechnica, 17 May 2025
This is not their first head-scratching loss of the year.
—Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 7 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for head-scratching
Luca Evans, Denver Post, 21 May 2025
Minnesota has high highs as a team but low lows and can play head-scratching basketball at times.
—The Athletic Nba Staff, New York Times, 20 May 2025
Ars published a story a few months ago on spaceflight patches from NASA, SpaceX, Russia, and the NRO, the US government's spy satellite agency, which is responsible for some of the most head-scratching mission logos.
—ArsTechnica, 17 May 2025
This is not their first head-scratching loss of the year.
—Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 7 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for head-scratching
Recent Examples of Synonyms for head-scratching
Noun
-
Some of those who chose to evacuate didn’t do so promptly, and there was widespread confusion whether evacuation was necessary at all.—
Rong-Gong Lin II,
Los Angeles Times,
8 June 2025
-
Two recent scientific reviews performed by the British National Health Service and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services found little scientific support for the use of puberty blockers, hormone therapies, and surgery for youth with gender confusion.—
Krista Kafer,
Denver Post,
7 June 2025
Noun
-
The regulatory bias against 401(k) crypto may be lifting, but that doesn’t mean the fog has dissipated.—
Chris Carosa,
Forbes.com,
12 June 2025
-
The bartenders stop pouring, the light smears into a soft crimson fog.—
Jeff Weiss,
HollywoodReporter,
12 June 2025
Noun
-
Taking inspiration from the CAR T-cell technology used to provide personalized cancer treatments, researchers have conducted a proof-of-concept study showing how similar compounds can precisely target protein tangles and plaques in the brain.—
Michael Franco,
New Atlas,
12 June 2025
-
To get started, take care of the tangles throughout your hair strands.—
Catharine Malzahn,
Glamour,
11 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Head-scratching.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/head-scratching. Accessed 17 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share