problematic

adjective

ˌprä-blə-ˈma-tik How to pronounce problematic (audio)
variants also problematical
Definition of problematicnext
1
as in difficult
requiring exceptional skill or caution in performance or handling the problematic situation of somehow having two dates for the same party

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in questionable
giving good reason for being doubted, questioned, or challenged whether we should even bother finishing the project at this point is problematic

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 Baltimore City Hall leaders acknowledged on Wednesday that squatting and social media networks potentially profiting from such activities are problematic. —Gary Collins, Baltimore Sun, 23 May 2025 Vanney didn’t necessarily need to be fired, but to veer to the extreme opposite and announce this extension during a historically bad stretch made for some bizarre optics and forced the Galaxy – and Vanney – into a problematic situation. —Felipe Cardenas, New York Times, 20 May 2025 The aim is to ultimately help reduce the island’s problematic 85% food import dependency. —Roger Sands, Forbes.com, 18 May 2025 This is potentially problematic to some U.S. analysts, given Saudi Arabia and the UAE’s close ties with China. —Andrew R. Chow, Time, 14 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for problematic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for problematic
  1. difficult
  2. questionable
  3. sticky
  4. debatable
  5. complicated
  6. suspicious
  7. doubtful
Adjective
  • But the fact that Schwartzman, in his first film, was given the difficult task of stealing laughs away from a comedy legend, and so often succeeds in doing so, gives him the slight edge.
    — Shannon Carlin, Time, 30 May 2025
  • Dietary fat can be difficult to digest and may cause more irritation and pain.
    — Chelsea Rae Bourgeois, Health, 30 May 2025
Definition of difficult
Adjective
  • While many supplements are questionable at best, some of the hype about creatine seems warranted; even the International Olympic Committee has it on a short list of four supplements that are largely safe and proven effective for athletes.
    — Cindy Kuzma, SELF, 28 May 2025
  • She is officially labeled as questionable to play against the Liberty.
    — Nathan Canilao, Mercury News, 27 May 2025
Definition of questionable
Adjective
  • The reviews and social conversation were becoming apparent that this had inserted itself into the culture in a really sticky way.
    — Jackie Strause, HollywoodReporter, 22 May 2025
  • As the Southern heat creeps up more and more, putting together an outfit that’s stylish but doesn’t leave you drenched in sweat or sticky from humidity can be a challenge.
    — Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 21 May 2025
Definition of sticky
Adjective
  • Whether or not Jones would have wanted his character to feature in Fortnite is debatable, but strangely enough, Disney’s Star Wars has inspired similar debates in the past.
    — Dani Di Placido, Forbes.com, 20 May 2025
  • Whether that was the best ploy is debatable, particularly as results on the field have waned.
    — Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 14 May 2025
Definition of debatable
Adjective
  • The result is a mosaic of broods that makes the jigsaw puzzle of periodical cicada distribution more complicated, but more interesting.
    — Chris Simon, The Conversation, 22 May 2025
  • My work centers Native characters who are fully human: messy, funny, complicated.
    — Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 22 May 2025
Definition of complicated
Adjective
  • There was no indication of suspicious activity and no danger to the public, police said.
    — Carolyn Stein, Chicago Tribune, 25 May 2025
  • On Wednesday, an investigator spied a suspicious drone over the detention center shortly before 3 a.m. and tracked it to a landing spot on top of an SUV parked just down the road.
    — Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 24 May 2025
Definition of suspicious
Adjective
  • Allen set a course record in the victory and sent a postcard to her doubtful doctor afterward.
    — Kyle Newman, Denver Post, 25 May 2025
  • The marathon meeting came and went as House Republican leaders are looking to get the Trump agenda bill through the chamber by Memorial Day, an ambitious timeline that some lawmakers are doubtful of.
    — Mike Lillis, The Hill, 14 May 2025
Definition of doubtful

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problem
problematic
problems
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Cite this Entry

“Problematic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/problematic. Accessed 3 Jun. 2025.

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