PROBLEMATIC

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does problematic mean? 

• PROBLEMATIC (adjective)
  The adjective PROBLEMATIC has 2 senses:

1. open to doubt or debate

2. making great mental demands; hard to comprehend or solve or believe

  Familiarity information: PROBLEMATIC used as an adjective is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• PROBLEMATIC (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Open to doubt or debate

Synonyms:

debatable; problematic; problematical

Context example:

If you ever get married, which seems to be extremely problematic

Similar:

questionable (subject to question)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Making great mental demands; hard to comprehend or solve or believe

Synonyms:

baffling; elusive; knotty; problematic; problematical; tough

Context example:

a problematic situation at home

Similar:

difficult; hard (not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure)

Derivation:

problem (a state of difficulty that needs to be resolved)

 Context examples 

In NCI Thesaurus and NCI Metathesaurus, concept status subtypes are linked to concepts with unusual and problematic characteristics that should be evaluated by people and/or programs before those concept are used. — 2004.

(Concept Status, NCI Thesaurus)

The development of a problematic medical situation that occurs concurrently with the birth of a neonate.

(Birth Complication, NCI Thesaurus)

Understanding these reactions may help in identifying and treating caregivers at risk for child maltreatment and other problematic behaviors.

(Study identifies brain patterns underlying mothers’ responses to infant cries, National Institutes of Health)

Earlier animal studies showed that certain drugs can block reconsolidation, but using such drugs in people can be problematic.

(How Our Memory Works, NIH, US)