head-scratcher

noun

head-scratch·​er ˈhed-ˌskra-chər 

plural head-scratchers

informal

: something that is confusing, mysterious, or hard to understand

Police say the real head-scratcher is trying to determine exactly how the thief or thieves fished the koi from the pond and carted them away unnoticed.

—The Associated Press

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

Synonyms of head-scratcher

• mystery

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

That strategy at play is a head-scratcher for pundits across the political spectrum. — Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 8 Oct. 2026

Yet seemingly out of desperation, the nominees also have included total head-scratchers like Coldplay, Florence + the Machine, Matchbox Twenty, the Eagles — the fuckin’ Eagles, man! — Jem Aswad, Variety, 8 Oct. 2026

Given the religious theme, the track list itself also includes one head-scratcher. — Jonathan Bernstein, Rolling Stone, 2 Oct. 2026

That executive pointed to a few of Stearns’ deals that proved to be head-scratchers, such as the contracts for Frankie Montas and Sean Manaea ahead of the 2025 season. — Tim Britton, New York Times, 30 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1902, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for head-scratcher

• dispatcher
• flycatcher
• catcher
• hatcher
• matcher
• stature