problematic

The definition of problematic is something that creates or presents a difficulty, or that seems to be untrue, unlikely or incorrect.

(adjective)

When you are stranded on a dark street late at night and you have no money to call a cab or take a bus home and no phone to reach anyone, this is an example of a problematic situation.

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See problematic in Webster's New World College Dictionary

adjective

  1. having the nature of a problem; hard to solve or deal with
  2. not settled; yet to be determined; uncertain

Origin: Fr problématique < L problematicus < Gr problematikos < problēma (see problem) + -al

noun

an unresolved problem or inherent difficulty, as in a field of study

Related Forms:

See problematic in American Heritage Dictionary 4

adjective
  1. Posing a problem; difficult to solve: a repair that proved more problematic than first expected.
  2. Open to doubt; debatable: “if you ever get married, which seems to me extremely problematic” (Oscar Wilde).
  3. Not settled; unresolved or dubious: a problematic future.

Related Forms:

  • probˌlem·atˈi·cal·ly adverb

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