Problematic meaning

prŏb'lə-măt'ĭk
The definition of problematic is something that creates or presents a difficulty, or that seems to be untrue, unlikely or incorrect.

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.

adjective
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An unresolved problem or inherent difficulty, as in a field of study.
noun
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Posing a problem; difficult to overcome or solve.
adjective
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Open to doubt; debatable.
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Not settled; unresolved or dubious.

A problematic future.

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Something that poses a problem or difficulty.
noun
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Having the nature of a problem; hard to solve or deal with.
adjective
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Not settled; yet to be determined; uncertain.
adjective
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Debatable; open to doubt.
adjective
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adjective
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Doubtful or uncertain in its outcome.
adjective
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(chiefly in the plural) A problem or difficulty in a particular field of study.
noun
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Posing a problem; difficult to solve.

A repair that proved more problematic than first expected.

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Origin of problematic

Shortening of problematical, from Late Latin problematicus, from Ancient Greek προβληματικός (problÄ“matikos), from πρόβλημα (problÄ“ma, “outjutting, barrier, problem"), from προβάλλω (proballō, “I throw, place before"), from πρό (pro, “before") + βάλλω (ballō, “I throw, place").

Sentence Examples

  • Kant contrasts apodictical with problematic and assertorical judgments.

  • Going back and forth between these strategies is problematic, to say the least.

  • In other words, a categorical universal is often problematic, but a problematic is not the same as a hypothetical judgment.

  • Many of the Ecaudata have remnants of oviducts, or Miillerian ducts, most developed in Bufo, which genus is also remarkable as possessing a problematic organ, Bidder's organ, situated between the testis and the adipose or fat-bodies that surmount it.

  • The relationship with Aepyornis of Madagascar is still problematic. Whilst the moas seem to have been entirely herbivorous, feeding not unlikely upon the shoots of ferns, the kiwis have become highly specialized wormeaters.

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Words near problematic in the Dictionary