problematic

[prob-luh-mat-ik]

adjective

of the nature of a problem; doubtful; uncertain; questionable.

Often prob·lem·at·i·cal.

Origin of problematic

1600–10; < Late Latin problēmaticus < Greek problēmatikós, equivalent to problēmat- (stem of próblēma) problem + -ikos -ic

Related formsprob·lem·at·i·cal·ly, adverbnon·prob·lem·at·ic, adjectivenon·prob·lem·at·i·cal, adjectivenon·prob·lem·at·i·cal·ly, adverbqua·si-prob·lem·at·ic, adjectiveun·prob·lem·at·ic, adjectiveun·prob·lem·at·i·cal, adjectiveun·prob·lem·at·i·cal·ly, adverb

Synonyms for problematic

unsure, indeterminate, unsettled, dubious, ambiguous.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

British Dictionary definitions for non-problematic

problematic

problematical

adjective

having the nature or appearance of a problem; questionable

logic obsolete (of a proposition) asserting that a property may or may not holdCompare apodeictic (def. 2), assertoric

Derived Formsproblematically, adverb

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for non-problematic

problematic

adj.

c.1600, "doubtful, questionable," from French problematique (15c.), from Late Latin problematicus, from Greek problematikos "pertaining to a problem," from problematos, genitive of problema (see problem). Specific sense in logic, differentiating what is possible from what is necessarily true, is from 1610s. Related: Problematical (1560s); problematically.