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
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Recent Examples of head-scratcher
The two big investments in their front seven — particularly Phillips’ whopping four-year, $120 million deal — also meant the Panthers would have to exercise financial prudence with their other additions, at least one of which was a head-scratcher.
—
Joseph Person, New York Times, 11 Mar. 2026
One head-scratcher in the poll was the voters’ denial about their political polarization.
—Los Angeles Times, 2 Mar. 2026
Given that Sapporo is one of the coldest places in Japan, the custom is a bit of a head-scratcher.
—Alex Halberstadt, Condé Nast Traveler, 25 Feb. 2026
That’s a head-scratcher because Zootopia 2 is such a sharp sequel, even surpassing the original, with much to say and a lot of appeal beyond just a kids base.
—Pete Hammond, Deadline, 20 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for head-scratcher
Joseph Person, New York Times, 11 Mar. 2026
One head-scratcher in the poll was the voters’ denial about their political polarization.
—Los Angeles Times, 2 Mar. 2026
Given that Sapporo is one of the coldest places in Japan, the custom is a bit of a head-scratcher.
—Alex Halberstadt, Condé Nast Traveler, 25 Feb. 2026
That’s a head-scratcher because Zootopia 2 is such a sharp sequel, even surpassing the original, with much to say and a lot of appeal beyond just a kids base.
—Pete Hammond, Deadline, 20 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for head-scratcher
Recent Examples of Synonyms for head-scratcher
mystery
Noun
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No such mystery surrounded the whereabouts of Daniel Kinahan, the forty-eight-year-old Irishman who was arrested in Dubai on April 17th.—
Ed Caesar,
New Yorker,
30 Apr. 2026
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These materials are key to technologies such as ultrasound, sonar, and high-efficiency sensors, but their complex, disordered structure has remained a mystery for decades.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
30 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Head-scratcher.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/head-scratcher. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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