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problematic

[prob-luh-mat-ik]

adjective

of the nature of a problem; doubtful; uncertain; questionable.

Also, prob·lem·at·i·cal.

Origin:
1600–10; < Late Latin problēmaticus < Greek problēmatikós, equivalent to problēmat- (stem of próblēma) problem + -ikos -ic

Related forms

prob·lem·at·i·cal·ly, adverb

non·prob·lem·at·ic, adjective

non·prob·lem·at·i·cal, adjective

non·prob·lem·at·i·cal·ly, adverb

qua·si-prob·lem·at·ic, adjective

EXPAND

un·prob·lem·at·ic, adjective

un·prob·lem·at·i·cal, adjective

un·prob·lem·at·i·cal·ly, adverb

COLLAPSE

Synonyms
unsure, indeterminate, unsettled, dubious, ambiguous.

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Problematic is always a great word to know.

So is zedonk. Does it mean:

a stew of meat, vegetables, potatoes, etc.

the offspring of a zebra and a donkey.

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Example Sentences

Readers respond to an editorial about a problematic immigration program.

Many of us see clearly what is problematic about such actions.

Romania was originally seen as the more problematic of the two.

EXPAND

Readers respond to an editorial about a problematic immigration program.

Many of us see clearly what is problematic about such actions.

Romania was originally seen as the more problematic of the two.

Choose plants that problematic local pests don't like.

Distinguishing between science and pseudoscience is problematic.

Breeding them in zoos proved hugely problematic because the male would often maim or kill its partner.

Here is where the best-of-the-decade rule became a little problematic.

Shellfish can be problematic in the summer for several reasons, but should you avoid.

Especially the sample pages are problematic in the printed book.

On the other hand, structural unemployment in the economy may not be quite as problematic as is widely feared.

The length of the gene varies within the general population and becomes problematic only when it exceeds a certain extent.

The source material itself was problematic for a successful adaptation:.

Computer security has been particularly problematic for the lab.

The problematic articles varied in authorship and subject matter, but many shared a common feature.

That's problematic for colleges in struggling small towns and declining manufacturing cities.

But coming up with a set of standards which can be applied to schools in different countries is problematic.

Then, ask students to explain how these activities can be problematic for the environment.

The next step will be a treatment study to see if certain medications help to reduce the problematic impulses.

There are definitely some flaws–the camera is problematic at times.

And for that reason the current image of business is more problematic than conventional wisdom intimates.

His failure to care for himself has been problematic for a long time now.

Rankings based on perceptions are particularly problematic.

It is already problematic getting the immune system to accept an organ from another human.

The inability to ensure a ready supply is also problematic.

Police admit that enforcing such laws is problematic at best.

Also problematic could be the small fortune she stands to make from her shocking and, at times, steamy book.

If the problematic students are athletes,a call to the coach is especially.

It is problematic that civilians have suffered in an operation that is, in part, designed to win support from local people.

Females more problematic and can be confused with either female scarlet or hepatic tanagers, lacking all orange tones.

Understanding it does not fix it or even make it less problematic.

The condition can be particularly problematic when video games use colors to code different gameplay elements.

His case is in many ways unexceptional: ghastly crime, substantial but problematic evidence, inept defense lawyer.

Those who feel they have particularly problematic sentences are invited to the blackboard.

It cannot be mortgaged and selling usage rights or buildings can be legally problematic.

Acid rain is problematic due to acidification of soil, rivers, and lakes beyond the tolerance range of plants and animals.

The information generated identified three problematic flights.

Their venom is especially toxic to vertebrates, which makes their bite problematic for humans.

In this drama a veteran cop takes in a problematic adolescent who might have seen several policemen murdered.

Colleges must decide how, and whether, to respond to problematic search ads when they appear.

Most problematic of all is when star employees decide to look for work elsewhere.

Cultural differences and extreme disparities between the haves and the have-nots make caregiving projects especially problematic.

Highly problematic for those cheering for a meltdown.

Which could prove to be more than a little problematic.

What may be more problematic is the robust continuance of religious traditions that are founded upon deep learning.

Government information-gathering programs are problematic even if no information that people want to hide is uncovered.

Most problematic of all, modern services require skilled workers, not the unskilled type that poor countries have in abundance.

Methamphetamine is popular in this area and particularly problematic for law enforcement.

We then reinforced those good qualities and discussed the problematic parts at home.

That's one hell of a feat considering the record setting runs were number one and two after the problematic shake-down.

Squeezing taxes, if not blood, out of this particular stone will prove immensely problematic.

On the other hand, if you really do think the paper is deeply problematic as per his comments, there's always self-immolation.

The article raised a number of themes and problematic issues connected to the process of post-conflict recovery.

The development of lithium deposits is particularly problematic.

Prevalence and patterns of problematic sleep among older adolescents.

Getting power from solar energy becomes increasingly problematic the farther the probe travels from the sun.

Mabel's clichéd narrative voice keeps reminding you what a problematic enterprise this sort of book can be.

Rather, they suggest that engaging in practices that could be viewed as extremist might be problematic to the grant committee.

Very interesting survey which does a fair job of raising some of the more problematic issues.

Then they argued over whether it would become problematic.

But, they also suffer from the rather problematic side effect of being highly artificial.

Suck its energy and leave the cadaver or the problematic shell out of the.

And those with problematic backgrounds must feel confident that they can demand and receive justice.

He does concede, however, that religion's role in the contemporary world is more problematic.

Advocacy is certainly problematic since it can easily tarnish.

Religious beliefs can be problematic but you can't stick them in a box.

It is at times a problematic experience when the balance gets out of whack.

Many individual problematic drugs make an appearance here.

Balancing competing interests is never easy and in times of change it becomes particularly problematic.

They are not comfortable and make having a normal conversation problematic.

Most researchers agree that having an occasional nightmare is normal and not problematic.

Major solutions emerge out of major problematic situations.

We are all aware that using lecture slides comes with some pretty problematic baggage.

Generous unemployment benefits are much more problematic in countries with a thriving black economy.

Since the procedure requires modifications on a global scale, how to test such modifications is problematic to say the least.

Compounding matters is the problematic location of the power and volume buttons.

Obviously, these issues can be problematic and have made the experience even more challenging than it might have been.

It also argues that new drugs that attack especially problematic diseases should get extra patent protection.

The other two red dye suggestions wouldn't have an increased risk for sensitivity, but they are problematic for other reasons.

Especially problematic are the civilian casualties which result from the strikes.

Travel times to any activity are usually problematic because they add extra to the total time of the activity itself.

The sainest parts will find their way out of trouble faster, leaving only the problematic zone under chaos.

Still, it's also problematic and contradicting to have religion lead to stress and fight it at the same time.

No guarantee that fancy gimmicks won't be problematic for second owners.

Skill in disputation is vital to success in academe, but it can be problematic when deployed in personal interactions.

Of these, the gap between government expenditure and revenues is particularly problematic.

So although vitrification is a bit problematic and hasn't yet provided superior.

Even uses of e-mail that you think are appropriate may prove problematic.

Marnell's piece glamorizes being incurious in a fundamental and problematic way.

What would be more problematic would be a human hybrid with a non-human primate.

Applying the biological species concept to these guys gets problematic.

It's important because it's the best band-aid we've got for dealing with one of the more problematic kluges in our evolution:.

COLLAPSE

Dictionary.com Unabridged

plural noun

the uncertainties or difficulties inherent in a situation or plan.

Origin:
1955–60; see problematic, -ics

Link To problematic

Collins

World English Dictionary

problematic or problematical (ˌprɒbləˈmætɪk)

—*adj*
1.	having the nature or appearance of a problem; questionable
2.	obsolete logic apodeictic Compare assertoric (of a proposition) asserting that a property may or may not hold

problematical or problematical

—*adj*

problem'atically or problematical

—*adv*

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source

Etymonline

Word Origin & History

problematic

1609, shortening of problematical (1570), from L.L. problematicus, from Gk. problematikos "pertaining to a problem," from problematos, gen. of problema (see problem).

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Matching Quote

"So of the three methods: reason, sense, or a knowing combination of both, the last seems the least like a winner, the second problematic; only the first has some slim chance of succeeding through sheer perversity, which is possibly the only way to succeed at all."

-John Ashbery

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problematic

prob·lem·at·ic

prob·lem·at·ics