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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of head-scratching
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.
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ArsTechnica, 17 May 2025
This is not their first head-scratching loss of the year.
—Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 7 May 2025
Still, imagery and data collected by the probe's instruments are portraying some head-scratching puzzlement.
—Leonard David, Space.com, 6 May 2025
Although Williams has flashed talent, he’s also made head-scratching mistakes throughout his young career and is entering the final year of his contract.
—Saad Yousuf, New York Times, 28 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for head-scratching
ArsTechnica, 17 May 2025
This is not their first head-scratching loss of the year.
—Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 7 May 2025
Still, imagery and data collected by the probe's instruments are portraying some head-scratching puzzlement.
—Leonard David, Space.com, 6 May 2025
Although Williams has flashed talent, he’s also made head-scratching mistakes throughout his young career and is entering the final year of his contract.
—Saad Yousuf, New York Times, 28 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for head-scratching
Recent Examples of Synonyms for head-scratching
Noun
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Plus, the bars are shaped like an ‘S’ and a ‘C’, so there’s no confusion as to which is which.—
Merrell Readman,
Travel + Leisure,
27 May 2025
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Industry opponents — including one company employing unconventional methods — are pushing for a veto, arguing the law would sow confusion in a growing market and ultimately harm consumers looking for a safe, effective product.—
Nick Coltrain,
Denver Post,
23 May 2025
Noun
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In extremely dense fog where visibility is near zero, the best course of action is to first turn on your hazard lights, then simply pull into a safe location such as a parking lot of a local business, and stop.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
31 May 2025
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If driving through fog becomes inevitable, remember these safety guidelines: Moderate your speed: Slow down and allocate extra travel time to reach your destination safely.—
Bay Area Weather Report,
Mercury News,
31 May 2025
Noun
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Other experimental drugs have targeted the tau tangles, a different protein that builds up inside nerve cells.—
Jon Hamilton,
NPR,
30 May 2025
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Despite the sleek design of modern gadgets and the rise of wireless solutions, both businesses and consumers still live in a frustrating tangle of cables.—
Mark Vena,
Forbes.com,
27 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Head-scratching.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/head-scratching. Accessed 7 Jun. 2025.
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