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
Laura Miller
This is, ahem, a very complex scientific process involving a great deal of head-scratching and thoughtful staring.—Tom Jordan
Tom Jordan
also : confusion
informal
: difficult to understand : causing puzzlement or confusion
… the system can lead to head-scratching results …—Mark Bechtel
Mark Bechtel
… we'll be revisiting some of the best, worst, and most head-scratching moments from our archives.—Doug Brod
Doug Brod
head-scratchingly adverb
head-scratchingly poor decisions
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
Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 10 Apr. 2026 Modern cosmic data analysis faces some truly head-scratching algorithmic challenges, demanding not just cleverness, but brand-new ways to hunt for answers across vast conceptual spaces. —Paul Sutter, Space.com, 22 Mar. 2026
Doug Haller, New York Times, 15 Apr. 2026 When Jean-Luc Picard was appointed captain of the USS Enterprise-D in 1987, there was a lot of head-scratching among followers of Starfleet. —Richard Edwards, Space.com, 12 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for head-scratching
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
The Dolphins’ 2019 decision to sign Ryan Fitzpatrick — instead of a lesser quarterback — and then trade for Josh Rosen and not play him, during a season when snagging the first pick was an organizational priority, would top my list of head-scratching decisions. —Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 10 Apr. 2026 Modern cosmic data analysis faces some truly head-scratching algorithmic challenges, demanding not just cleverness, but brand-new ways to hunt for answers across vast conceptual spaces. —Paul Sutter, Space.com, 22 Mar. 2026
Adjective
Which is what made Tuesday’s Play-In performance so head-scratching. —Doug Haller, New York Times, 15 Apr. 2026 When Jean-Luc Picard was appointed captain of the USS Enterprise-D in 1987, there was a lot of head-scratching among followers of Starfleet. —Richard Edwards, Space.com, 12 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for head-scratching
Cite this Entry
“Head-scratching.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.grautoblog.com/dictionary/head-scratching. Accessed 28 Apr. 2026.
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