problematic

CEFRB2

/ˌpɹɒb.ləˈmæt.ɪk/

adjective

Türkçe translations

Translating…

In plain English

  1. 01

    adjective

    Causing difficulties or likely to create problems.

  2. 02

    adjective

    Extra detail

    Posing a problem; having or suffering from problem(s):

Examples

  • It may be problematic to dissuade your parents from accompanying you to the event.

  • The separation of gold from sand is problematic.

At a glance

Sits at B2 on the CEFR scale

Senses
5
Parts of speech
1
Citations
5
Synonyms
5

Also pronounced

  • /ˌpɹɑ.bləˈmæt.ɪk/

Deep Dive

adjective

Extra meanings
  1. Difficult to overcome, solve, or decide.

  2. Not settled, uncertain, of uncertain outcome; debatable, questionable, open to doubt.

  3. Contributing (especially if subtly) to discrimination (such as racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, or ageism).

More examples

In context
  • The situation is more problematic than we first thought.

  • it portends a problematic future for the movement

  • a problematic analysis

Quick test

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Question 1 · Quick check

The faulty wiring was blank because it could start a fire at any moment.

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Nearby

Origin

adjective

Borrowed from Middle French problématique, from Late Latin problematicus, from Ancient Greek προβληματικός (problēmatikós), from πρόβλημα (próblēma, “outjutting, barrier, problem”), from προβάλλω (probállō, “I throw, place before”), from πρό (pró, “before”) + βάλλω (bállō, “I throw, place”). By surface analysis, problem + -atic.