Synonyms of problematic

problematic

adjective

ˌprä-blə-ˈma-tik 

variants also problematical

1

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

• difficult
• sticky
• complicated
• tough
• complex
• nasty
• tricky
• thorny
• sensitive
• delicate
• touchy
• painful
• dodgy
• tricksy
• knotty
• hairy
• ticklish
• catchy
• serious
• spiny
• troublesome
• prickly
• problem
• intricate
• vexing
• worrisome
• abstract
• hard
• stubborn
• involved
• abstruse
• exacting
• recondite
• inconvenient
• vexatious
• stressful
• oppressive
• onerous
• burdensome
• troublous
• exhausting
• scabrous
• demanding
• importunate
• discommoding

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• easy
• simple
• manageable
• straightforward
• uncomplicated
• painless
• effortless
• unproblematic
• undemanding

2

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

• questionable
• debatable
• suspicious
• doubtful
• suspect
• disputable
• dubious
• ambiguous
• unclear
• shaky
• supposed
• fishy
• equivocal
• queer
• shady
• weak
• dodgy
• dubitable
• unlikely
• alleged
• doubtable
• moot
• uncertain
• improbable
• undetermined
• flimsy
• so-called
• undecided
• far-fetched
• open

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• certain
• sure
• unproblematic
• indisputable
• unquestionable
• undeniable
• incontestable
• undoubted
• indubitable
• decisive
• definitive
• obvious
• questionless
• positive
• clear
• hands-down
• open-and-shut

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

Recent Examples of problematic

If an attorney believes someone at the company is engaged in legally problematic conduct, the attorney has an obligation to raise the issue all the way up the organization’s highest authority if necessary. —Chris Deubert, Forbes, 21 Mar. 2025

The second period, with the long change, has been problematic for the B’s, lowlighted by the embarrassing second period against the Lightning last Saturday in which they were outshot 21-0. —Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 21 Mar. 2025

After rapper Kanye West attacked her 7-year-old grandchildren in a heinous, unprovoked tirade, Mama Tina took to Instagram with an indirect message for the problematic rapper. —Mya Abraham, VIBE.com, 20 Mar. 2025

Fake or illegitimate reviews plague the internet, and such reviews are particularly problematic within fintechs, where customer trust is imperative to ensure confidence in services tied to sensitive information, such as your banking details or other personally identifiable information. —Branden Abushanab, Forbes, 14 Mar. 2025