variants also problematical

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective problematic contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of problematic are doubtful, dubious, and questionable. While all these words mean "not affording assurance of the worth, soundness, or certainty of something," problematic applies especially to things whose existence, meaning, fulfillment, or realization is highly uncertain.

whether the project will ever be finished is problematic

When might doubtful be a better fit than problematic?

The words doubtful and problematic are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, doubtful implies little more than a lack of conviction or certainty.

doubtful about whether I said the right thing

When can dubious be used instead of problematic?

The synonyms dubious and problematic are sometimes interchangeable, but dubious stresses suspicion, mistrust, or hesitation.

dubious about the practicality of the scheme

When is it sensible to use questionable instead of problematic?

While the synonyms questionable and problematic are close in meaning, questionable may imply no more than the existence of doubt but usually suggests that the suspicions are well-grounded.

a man of questionable honesty

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of problematic In recent years, beds in the hallways of the emergency department and long waits for admission have become problematic, as reflected in Greenspan’s presentation. Cindy Krischer Goodman, Sun Sentinel, 26 June 2025 At a summit Monday of Western state governors, New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham said the approach is problematic in New Mexico because of the close relationship residents have with those public lands. Preston Fore, Fortune, 24 June 2025 State Line Bridge is just one of the problematic bridges along the river. Doug Ross, Chicago Tribune, 22 June 2025 Hopefully, that was enough to justify the deeply problematic relationship that was certainly not great at the time. Lexi Carson, HollywoodReporter, 20 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for problematic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for problematic
Adjective
  • James is playing the final year of his contract at $52.6 million, which is a very difficult number for teams to pay.
    Evan Massey, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 July 2025
  • Being governor of an American state is one of the great jobs in politics, and Lamont has been a notable success after a difficult start in 2019.
    Kevin Rennie, Hartford Courant, 5 July 2025
Adjective
  • Credits are issued by independent registries but the market has faced criticism for inconsistent standards, greenwashing, and questionable impact.
    Dianne Plummer, Forbes.com, 2 July 2025
  • Chisholm followed that free pass with a questionable sac bunt for the first out of the inning.
    Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 1 July 2025
Adjective
  • Michigan State University provides instructions on creating traps for SWD by poking tiny holes into plastic containers and filling them with apple cider vinegar to lure the insects in, and placing a sticky card inside to capture them.
    Sophia Valchine, Freep.com, 9 July 2025
  • According to Hardy, this cream’s only downside is that the texture feels a bit sticky.
    Danielle Jackson, Glamour, 9 July 2025
Adjective
  • Trump’s remarks targeting wind and solar are certainly debatable, but the direction of energy and climate policy in his second presidency is well beyond any real doubt.
    David Blackmon, Forbes.com, 9 July 2025
  • But whether those are true All-Star-caliber numbers is certainly debatable — and the MLB selection did not take into account the issue of his health.
    Jon Vankin, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 July 2025
Adjective
  • While these may seem a bit too complicated for children, the kit is specifically designed for budding engineers aged 8 to 14 and includes easy-to-understand, age-appropriate instructions.
    Anja Webb, Parents, 9 July 2025
  • That stark reality, Wood said, was part of what compelled him to write the book Among the lessons Wood discusses are the importance of healthy communication, the role of community support and the insights drawn from his own complicated relationship with his father.
    Essence, Essence, 9 July 2025
Adjective
  • Meanwhile, security teams must expand visibility with tools that monitor AI use, flag suspicious behavior and inventory every AI-enabled app.
    Jason Vest, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025
  • Why else, the night Mrs. Palit invited us to dinner, did my eyes fall on suspicious dark objects, not much larger than prominent flecks of salt, in the dal?
    Jhumpa Lahiri, New Yorker, 30 June 2025
Adjective
  • Ticketing companies show support for Donald Trump's executive order, others prove to be doubtful of 'meaningful change' Live Nation, parent company of Ticketmaster, issued a statement supporting Trump's executive order and calling for a cap on resale prices.
    Diana Leyva, The Tennessean, 2 July 2025
  • After delivering several flops since its inception in 2019, such as Napoleon and Killers of the Flower Moon, the future of Apple's foray into movies remained doubtful.
    Saajan Jogia, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Problematic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/problematic. Accessed 15 Jul. 2025.

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