Problematic — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective noun /ˌprä-blə-ˈma-tik/ prob·lem·at·ic

Meaning & Definition of Problematic

Problematic (adjective)

  1. posing a problem, difficult to solve or decide
  2. not definite or settled, uncertain
  3. open to question or debate, questionable

Problematic (noun)

  1. something that is problematic, a problematic aspect or concern

Problematic (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. requiring exceptional skill or caution in performance or handling

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

    similar: catchy, delicate, difficult, dodgy (chiefly British), hairy, knotty, nasty, prickly, sensitive, spiny, sticky, thorny, ticklish, touchy, tough, tricksy, tricky
    related: abstract, abstruse, complex, complicated, hard, intricate, involved, recondite, serious, problem, scabrous, stubborn, troublesome, troublous, vexatious, vexing, worrisome, burdensome, demanding, discommoding, exacting, exhausting, importunate, inconvenient, onerous, oppressive, painful, stressful
    near: easy, effortless, manageable, painless, simple, straightforward, uncomplicated, undemanding, unproblematic

  2. giving good reason for being doubted, questioned, or challenged

    "whether we should even bother finishing the project at this point is problematic"

    similar: debatable, disputable, dodgy (chiefly British), doubtable, doubtful, dubious, dubitable, equivocal, fishy, queer, questionable, shady, shaky, suspect, suspicious
    related: alleged, so-called, supposed, moot, ambiguous, open, unclear, uncertain, undecided, undetermined, far-fetched, flimsy, improbable, unlikely, weak
    opposite: certain, hands-down, incontestable, indisputable, indubitable, questionless, sure, undeniable, undoubted, unproblematic, unquestionable
    near: decisive, definitive, clear, obvious, open-and-shut, positive

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Problematic

The most common words with a similar meaning to Problematic:

Chiefly British: dodgy
catchy, delicate, difficult, hairy, knotty, nasty, prickly, sensitive, spiny, sticky, thorny, ticklish, touchy, tough, tricksy, tricky, debatable, disputable, doubtable, doubtful, dubious, dubitable, equivocal, fishy, queer, questionable, shady, shaky, suspect, suspicious

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Problematic

Words with the opposite meaning of Problematic:

certain, hands-down, incontestable, indisputable, indubitable, questionless, sure, undeniable, undoubted, unproblematic, unquestionable

Related Words for Problematic

abstract, abstruse, complex, complicated, hard, intricate, involved, recondite, serious, problem, scabrous, stubborn, troublesome, troublous, vexatious, vexing, worrisome, burdensome, demanding, discommoding, exacting, exhausting, importunate, inconvenient, onerous, oppressive, painful, stressful, alleged, so-called

Near Antonyms of Problematic

easy, effortless, manageable, painless, simple, straightforward, uncomplicated, undemanding, decisive, definitive, clear, obvious, open-and-shut, positive

Word Forms of Problematic

Derived words: problematically (adverb)

Origin & Etymology of Problematic

First known use: 1609

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Problematic

Frequently Asked Questions about Problematic

What does "Problematic" mean?

"Problematic" means posing a problem, difficult to solve or decide. As an an adjective and a noun, it is defined as: posing a problem, difficult to solve or decide. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Problematic"?

Other words for "Problematic" include catchy, delicate, difficult, dodgy, hairy, knotty, nasty and prickly. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Problematic" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Problematic"?

There are 74 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Problematic". Common alternatives include catchy, delicate, difficult, dodgy, hairy, knotty, nasty, prickly, sensitive and spiny.

What is the opposite of "Problematic"?

Antonyms of "Problematic" include certain, hands-down, incontestable, indisputable, indubitable, questionless, sure and undeniable. Near antonyms include easy, effortless, manageable and painless.

How do you use "Problematic" in a sentence?

Examples of "Problematic" in a sentence: "the problematic situation of somehow having two dates for the same party"; "whether we should even bother finishing the project at this point is problematic".

Is "Problematic" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Problematic" can be used as an adjective and a noun, depending on the context.

Is "Problematic" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a C1-level word, "Problematic" is typical of Cambridge C1 Advanced (CAE), IELTS band 7.0–8.0, TOEFL iBT 95–113, PTE Academic 76–84, TOEIC Listening & Reading 945+. Advanced words like this are also useful for the GRE, SAT, GMAT, and LSAT.

How do you pronounce "Problematic"?

"Problematic" is pronounced /ˌprä-blə-ˈma-tik/ and divided into syllables as prob·lem·at·ic.