Problematic Meaning
/ˌpɹɒb.ləˈmæt.ɪk/Definition, CEFR level B2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
adjPosing a problem; having or suffering from problem(s):
adjPosing a problem; having or suffering from problem(s):, Difficult to overcome, solve, or decide.
Sentence Examples
The separation of gold from sand is problematic.
It may be problematic to dissuade your parents from accompanying you to the event.
The situation is more problematic than we first thought.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Antonyms:
CEFR Practice Quiz
The faulty wiring was ____ because it could start a fire at any moment.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The new policy proved ____ in practice because it failed to account for regional differences.
Word Origin & History
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.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"And the most problematic thing of all is that it is impossible for me even to know and tell you their names, unless one of them happens to be a playwright."
— 1993, Plato, translated by Hugh Tredennick and Harold Tarrant, “Justice and Duty (i): Socrates Speaks at his Trial: the Apology”, in The Last Days of Socrates (Penguin Classics), revised edition, London; New York, N.Y.: Penguin Books, →ISBN, page 39:
"However, estimating what consumers will pay in the future is problematic."
— 2010, The Future of Energy Use:
"The station is blessed with a cafe and staff accommodation, as it's an important crew changeover point, although this can be problematic when services are late."
— 2022 November 30, Paul Bigland, “Destination Oban: a Sunday in Scotland”, in RAIL, number 971, page 79:
"The strangeness of hiring undocumented Mexican women as domestics, many of whom were no older than fifteen, seemed strange to me. It was this strangeness that raised the topic of domestic service as a question and made problematic what had previously been taken for granted."
— 1992, Mary Romero, “Intersection of Biography and History: My Intellectual Journey”, in Maid in the U.S.A., Routledge, →ISBN, →LCCN, page 1:
"The seemingly intractable problematic of essentialism versus antiessentialism and primordialism versus circumstantialism endemic to identity analysis today."
— 2006, Matt Wray, Not Quite White, page 141:
Explore More B2 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The faulty wiring was ____ because it could start a fire at any moment.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The new policy proved ____ in practice because it failed to account for regional differences.