PROBLEMATIC Synonyms: 99 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the adjective 'problematic' contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of problematic are doubtful , dubious , and questionable . While all these words mean "not affording assurance of the worth, soundness, or certainty of something," problematic applies especially to things whose existence, meaning, fulfillment, or realization is highly uncertain. // whether the project will ever be finished is problematic

Q: When might 'doubtful' be a better fit than 'problematic'?

The words doubtful and problematic are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, doubtful implies little more than a lack of conviction or certainty. // doubtful about whether I said the right thing

Q: When can 'dubious' be used instead of 'problematic'?

The synonyms dubious and problematic are sometimes interchangeable, but dubious stresses suspicion, mistrust, or hesitation. // dubious about the practicality of the scheme

Q: When is it sensible to use 'questionable' instead of 'problematic'?

While the synonyms questionable and problematic are close in meaning, questionable may imply no more than the existence of doubt but usually suggests that the suspicions are well-grounded. // a man of questionable honesty

problematic

adjective

ˌprä-blə-ˈma-tik

variants also problematical

Definition of problematic next

as in difficult

requiring exceptional skill or caution in performance or handling the problematic situation of somehow having two dates for the same party

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in questionable

giving good reason for being doubted, questioned, or challenged whether we should even bother finishing the project at this point is problematic

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective problematic contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of problematic are doubtful, dubious, and questionable. While all these words mean "not affording assurance of the worth, soundness, or certainty of something," problematic applies especially to things whose existence, meaning, fulfillment, or realization is highly uncertain.

whether the project will ever be finished is problematic

When might doubtful be a better fit than problematic?

The words doubtful and problematic are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, doubtful implies little more than a lack of conviction or certainty.

doubtful about whether I said the right thing

When can dubious be used instead of problematic?

The synonyms dubious and problematic are sometimes interchangeable, but dubious stresses suspicion, mistrust, or hesitation.

dubious about the practicality of the scheme

When is it sensible to use questionable instead of problematic?

While the synonyms questionable and problematic are close in meaning, questionable may imply no more than the existence of doubt but usually suggests that the suspicions are well-grounded.

a man of questionable honesty

Example Sentences

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Recent Examples of problematic Or the person who refuses to let up on the problematic depiction of the Siamese cats in Lady and the Tramp. —

B.a. Parker, NPR, 14 Feb. 2025 The new episodes have happily dispensed with problematic Season 2 storylines and focused on what makes the show work: its cast, its mythology and its ability to disturb us. —

Kelly Lawler, USA TODAY, 14 Feb. 2025 Social media apps know it too, and have tried different ways to keep it from spreading, like using fact-checkers to flag problematic content. —

Anne Oeldorf-Hirsch, The Conversation, 14 Feb. 2025 What’s more, experts have interpreted Sen. Bill Cassidy’s, R-La., recent comments about Kennedy partly as an effort to curb the secretary’s potentially problematic actions and shield Trump from embarrassment. —

Berkeley Lovelace Jr., NBC News, 13 Feb. 2025 See all Example Sentences for problematic

Recent Examples of Synonyms for problematic

Adjective

Perry worked for a time in California, while COVID restrictions made restaurant life difficult.

— Jenny Hartley, Charlotte Observer, 11 Feb. 2025
The only thing that could make persuading a group of pandemic skeptics to care about an infectious-disease outbreak more difficult is your boss—the president of the United States—undercutting your raison d’être.

— Nicholas Florko, The Atlantic, 11 Feb. 2025