head-scratching

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noun

head-scratch·​ing ˈhed-ˌskra-chiŋ 

informal

: the act or activity of scratching one's head while pondering or puzzling over something difficult to understand

—used figuratively

Every year, around the middle of October, the finalists for the National Book Awards are announced to general bafflement. Specifically, it's the fiction shortlist that provokes head-scratching.

—Laura Miller

This is, ahem, a very complex scientific process involving a great deal of head-scratching and thoughtful staring.

—Tom Jordan

also : confusion

head-scratching

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adjective

informal

: difficult to understand : causing puzzlement or confusion

… the system can lead to head-scratching results …

—Mark Bechtel

… we'll be revisiting some of the best, worst, and most head-scratching moments from our archives.

—Doug Brod

head-scratchingly adverb

head-scratchingly poor decisions

Synonyms

Noun

• bafflement
• bamboozlement
• befuddlement
• bemusement
• bewilderedness
• bewilderment
• confusedness
• confusion
• discombobulation
• distraction
• fog
• maze [chiefly dialect]
• muddle
• mystification
• perplexity
• puzzlement
• tangle
• whirl

Examples of head-scratching in a Sentence

Noun

poorly worded instructions that must have resulted in a lot of head-scratching

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

This set of four smart thermometer probes from Meater can take the head-scratching guesswork out of cooking meats. —Walden Green, Pitchfork, 29 Oct. 2024

Seth Jones, who made some head-scratching passing decisions, was temporarily replaced by Vlasic on the fourth power play until a slashing penalty gave the Hawks a five-on-three. —Phil Thompson, Chicago Tribune, 23 Oct. 2024

Adjective

Mason Marchment broke his head-scratching 32-game scoreless drought in his first game playing with Domi. —Peter Warren, Dallas News, 15 Mar. 2023

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1832, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1827, in the meaning defined above