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
This July 1 was not as crazy as some from the past, but there were still plenty of head-scratching contracts handed out, and most of them by teams that were not Stanley Cup contenders in April.
—
Corey Masisak, Denver Post, 1 July 2025
The reasoning is understood, but Utah's return is head-scratching
The rationale for trading Sexton is sound.
—Bobby Krivitsky, Forbes.com, 29 June 2025
Photo by Justin Ford/Getty Images Making that kind of move was a bit of a head-scratching decision.
—Evan Massey, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 June 2025
That would be a head-scratching move for the Browns, as Richardson has played poorly since being selected at No. 4 overall by the Colts in the 2023 NFL Draft.
—Evan Massey, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for head-scratching
Corey Masisak, Denver Post, 1 July 2025
The reasoning is understood, but Utah's return is head-scratching
The rationale for trading Sexton is sound.
—Bobby Krivitsky, Forbes.com, 29 June 2025
Photo by Justin Ford/Getty Images Making that kind of move was a bit of a head-scratching decision.
—Evan Massey, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 June 2025
That would be a head-scratching move for the Browns, as Richardson has played poorly since being selected at No. 4 overall by the Colts in the 2023 NFL Draft.
—Evan Massey, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for head-scratching
Recent Examples of Synonyms for head-scratching
Noun
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The move sparked anxiety, confusion and intense pushback from public school districts and advocates nationwide.—
Rachel Wegner,
The Tennessean,
27 July 2025
-
Anxious confusion creeps in when the Virgo moon triggers Uranus.—
USA TODAY,
USA Today,
26 July 2025
Noun
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July 30 will be quite hot and humid with patches of fog creating a visible haze.—
Ryan Murphy,
IndyStar,
30 July 2025
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Zero visibility protocol: In situations of near-zero visibility due to dense fog, activate your hazard lights and seek a secure location, such as a nearby business's parking lot, to pull over and come to a stop.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
30 July 2025
Noun
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This creates abnormal amounts of protein deposits called tangles, which kill brain cells.—
George Petras,
USA Today,
29 July 2025
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Lying nearby is a tangle of thin string that is defining the war now – not fishing net, but fiber-optic cable, used to prevent drones being jammed.—
Nick Paton Walsh,
CNN Money,
29 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Head-scratching.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/head-scratching. Accessed 3 Aug. 2025.
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