problematic

1 of 2

adjective

prob·​lem·​at·​ic ˌprä-blə-ˈma-tik 

variants or less commonly problematical

ˌprä-blə-ˈma-ti-kəl 

1

a

: posing a problem : difficult to solve or decide

a problematic situation

b

: not definite or settled : uncertain

Their future remains problematic.

c

: open to question or debate : questionable

It is problematic whether … terrorist attacks and conflicts … will generate the national coherence that twentieth-century wars did.

—Samuel P. Huntington

d

: having or showing attitudes (such as racial prejudice) or ideas (such as falsehoods) that are offensive, disturbing, or harmful

The page is monitored for trolling and members can report any problematic posts.

—Nicole Morley

"We are bombarded with so much problematic content, from misinformation to hate speech," [Maria D. Molina] said.

—Jonathan F. McVerry

[Philip] Nel said the decision to no longer publish titles that include racist caricatures showed just one way to address problematic material.

—Edward Helmore

2

logic : expressing or supporting a possibility

a problematic proposition

problematically

ˌprä-blə-ˈma-ti-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

problematic

2 of 2

noun

: something that is problematic : a problematic aspect or concern

Synonyms

Adjective

• catchy
• delicate
• difficult
• dodgy [chiefly British]
• hairy
• knotty
• nasty
• prickly
• sensitive
• spiny
• sticky
• thorny
• ticklish
• touchy
• tough
• tricksy
• tricky

Choose the Right Synonym for problematic

doubtful, dubious, problematic, questionable mean not affording assurance of the worth, soundness, or certainty of something.

doubtful implies little more than a lack of conviction or certainty.

doubtful about whether I said the right thing

dubious stresses suspicion, mistrust, or hesitation.

dubious about the practicality of the scheme

problematic applies especially to things whose existence, meaning, fulfillment, or realization is highly uncertain.

whether the project will ever be finished is problematic

questionable may imply no more than the existence of doubt but usually suggests that the suspicions are well-grounded.

a man of questionable honesty

Examples of problematic in a Sentence

Adjective

Rules of grammar are more problematic for non-native speakers.

the problematic situation of somehow having two dates for the same party

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Study finds flooding, water contamination especially problematic in Southeast Michigan rivers and watersheds. —Jennifer Dixon, Detroit Free Press, 20 Apr. 2024

However, the system does not by default include all potentially problematic keywords. —David Ingram, NBC News, 18 Apr. 2024

The Supreme Court granted him the power to order the immediate removal of problematic content — and fine or suspend companies that did not comply. —Terrence McCoy, Washington Post, 18 Apr. 2024

Though many remember Coachella as the home of problematic native American headdresses in the 2010s, the main ethical problem with the fashion now is how much of it is made by people working in slave-labor conditions and then thrown away. —Alana Hope Levinson, Vogue, 18 Apr. 2024

As a proper white ally, Mike (Gabriel Ebert) understands that love is, at best, a problematic notion when one of the lovers is owned by the other. —Jesse Green, New York Times, 17 Apr. 2024

And while Shakespeare, Dickens and Austen have been public-domain gold mines at various times, other properties have proven more problematic. —Andrew Dalton, Fortune, 16 Apr. 2024

Kids also love games and communicating with their friends online, and knowing when those habits cross over into problematic territory is proving to be more complicated than many parents imagined. —Jennifer Jolly, USA TODAY, 16 Apr. 2024

But a key concern is whether such an arrangement would over time or in an unanticipated contingency force the United States to commit to a significant and problematic military presence. —Steven Simon, Foreign Affairs, 9 Apr. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1609, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

1898, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

problematic

adjective

prob·​lem·​at·​ic

ˌpräb-lə-ˈmat-ik

variants also problematical

-ˈmat-i-kəl

1

: difficult to solve or decide : puzzling

a problematic situation

2

: not settled : uncertain

their future is still problematic

3

: open to question

the evidence is problematic