problematic
Americanadjective
-
of the nature of a problem; doubtful; uncertain; questionable.
We've discussed the problematic benefits of the treatment.
- Synonyms:
- ambiguous, dubious, unsettled, indeterminate, unsure
-
involving or presenting a problem that is difficult to deal with or solve.
She faces a problematic decision.
-
tending or likely to elicit objections or disapproval; offensive: We've all had to deal with problematic relatives during the holidays.
My ex-boyfriend's political opinions were often embarrassingly problematic.
We've all had to deal with problematic relatives during the holidays.
adjective
-
having the nature or appearance of a problem; questionable
-
obsolete logic (of a proposition) asserting that a property may or may not hold Compare apodeictic assertoric
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of problematic
First recorded in 1600–10; from Late Latin problēmaticus, from Greek problēmatikós, equivalent to problēmat- (stem of próblēma ) problem + -ikos -ic
Explanation
Something problematic poses a problem or causes difficulties. Your ambitions to become the next great leader of Spain are great, but your inability to speak Spanish might prove problematic. Around 1600, the word problematical was shortened and problematic was born. Perhaps they wanted to make it less problematic for spellers. It's an adjective that means tough, hard to solve, or even questionable. A flat tire in the middle of the desert would certainly be problematic, as would a star witness with a history of telling lies.
Vocabulary lists containing problematic
Dear Martin
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The Stars Beneath Our Feet
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Excerpt from "Reading Shakespeare's Language"
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
"Knowing what medications you are taking, when they were started, and for what indication is important in order to identify possible prescribing cascades that may be problematic."
From Science Daily ● Sep. 11, 2026
But he argues: “While this remains problematic, the U.S. consumer is not at the breaking point from these higher oil prices.”
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 11, 2026
Many Israelis find the violent, messianic ideology of some settlers deeply problematic.
From BBC ● Sep. 8, 2026
The idea of AI has become problematic in a lot of communities, for all sorts of different reasons, and that makes it more than just one company’s problem.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 31, 2026
They knew this idea was problematic and anomalous, but they also knew that without it there could be no perspective representation.
From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
