problematic

UK: /ˌprɒbləˈmætɪk/ US: /ˌprɑbləˈmætɪk/ ,(prob′lə mat′ik)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

prob•lem•at•ic /ˌprɑbləˈmætɪk/  also ˌprob•lemˈat•i•cal, adj. 

1. of the nature of a problem;
   doubtful:
   a problematic rise in unemployment rates.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

prob•lem•at•ic  (prob′lə mat′ik), adj. 

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

Also, prob′lem•at′i•cal. 

• Greek problēmatikós, equivalent. to problēmat- (stem of próblēma) problem + -ikos -ic
• Late Latin problēmaticus
• 1600–10

prob′lem•at′i•cal•ly, adv. 
Synonyms

unsure, indeterminate, unsettled, dubious, ambiguous.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

problematic / ˌprɒbləˈmætɪk/, problematical adjective

1. having the nature or appearance of a problem; questionable
2. (of a proposition) asserting that a property may or may not hold

ˌproblemˈatically adverb