head-scratcher
noun
head-scratch·er
ˈhed-ˌskra-chər 
plural head-scratchers
informal
: something that is confusing, mysterious, or hard to understand
We love college football for nothing if not the belief—hope even—that at any moment the unexpected could happen. Young as it is, this season has already provided its share of jaw-droppers and head-scratchers.—
Holly Anderson
Holly AndersonSynonyms
Examples of head-scratcher in a Sentence
why he chose to sink all of his money into a failing business is a real head-scratcher
Recent Examples on the Web
Strange laws are often head-scratchers in terms of trying to figure out why the law was created in the first place.
—Ashlyn Messier, Fox News, 22 Oct. 2024
Another head-scratcher: singles swapping out Tinder for run clubs.
—André Wheeler, The New Yorker, 21 Oct. 2024
Here's the biggest head-scratcher: Because Anna lives at the same time as both Ellie's stepsister and her grandmother, Daniel is both Ellie's stepdad and her great-grandfather.
—Nick Romano, EW.com, 10 Oct. 2024
Mainland China ETFs with Shanghai and Shenzhen stocks had risen above the 10% daily limit up, and the STAR Board above their 20% daily limit up, which was a bit of a head-scratcher.
—Brendan Ahern, Forbes, 9 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for head-scratcher 
Ashlyn Messier, Fox News, 22 Oct. 2024
Another head-scratcher: singles swapping out Tinder for run clubs.
—André Wheeler, The New Yorker, 21 Oct. 2024
Here's the biggest head-scratcher: Because Anna lives at the same time as both Ellie's stepsister and her grandmother, Daniel is both Ellie's stepdad and her great-grandfather.
—Nick Romano, EW.com, 10 Oct. 2024
Mainland China ETFs with Shanghai and Shenzhen stocks had risen above the 10% daily limit up, and the STAR Board above their 20% daily limit up, which was a bit of a head-scratcher.
—Brendan Ahern, Forbes, 9 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for head-scratcher
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'head-scratcher.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near head-scratcher
Cite this Entry
“Head-scratcher.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/head-scratcher. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.
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