problematic

problematic — 形容詞

1. involving or causing difficulties that are hard to resolve or manage

1.形容詞C1
釋義

棘手的

充滿困難或難以解決的

involving or causing difficulties that are hard to resolve or manage

例句

The latest operating system update created a problematic situation for the hospital's billing team.

最新的作業系統更新為醫院的帳務團隊造成了棘手的情況。

collocation: problematic situation

Yael found the parking rules problematic because they changed every week.

Yael 覺得停車規定很棘手，因為每週都在變。

pattern: find + [noun] + problematic

同義詞
  • troublesome

    more informal, emphasizes ongoing annoyance rather than structural difficulty

  • difficult

    broader and more general; less specific about causing complications

  • vexing

    more formal, suggests irritation or frustration

反義詞

用法筆記

Subject can be a situation, plan, relationship, or physical condition. This is the broadest and most frequent sense.

常見錯誤

❌This math problem is problematic.
✅This math problem is difficult.
💡'problematic' is about real-world difficulties, not about puzzles or exercises; use 'hard' or 'difficult' instead.
❌The car has a problematic.
✅The car has a problem.
💡'problematic' is an adjective, not a noun.

2. not certain to be true, correct, or reliable; open to reasonable doubt or debate

2.形容詞C1
釋義

存疑的

不確定或可能有誤的

not certain to be true, correct, or reliable; open to reasonable doubt or debate

例句

The claim that the herbal supplement cures arthritis for everyone is highly problematic given the lack of clinical trials.

那種草藥補充劑對所有關節炎患者都有效的說法，因缺乏臨床試驗而備受存疑。

collocation: highly problematic

Ryan pointed out several problematic assumptions in the research paper.

Ryan 指出了研究論文中幾個存疑的假設。

collocation: problematic assumption

同義詞
  • questionable

    slightly stronger; suggests moral or ethical doubt as well as factual doubt

  • debatable

    focuses on the existence of opposing views rather than inherent doubtfulness

  • dubious

    carries a more negative tone, suggesting suspicion about truthfulness

反義詞
  • certain

    suggests no room for doubt

  • indisputable

    stronger; suggests something cannot be reasonably questioned

文法句型

it is problematic to + infinitive

problematic that + clause

用法筆記

Often used with impersonal constructions ("it is problematic to…") and frequently appears in academic or analytical contexts. Distinguish from sense 1: this sense concerns uncertainty about truth or correctness, not practical difficulties.

常見錯誤

❌The weather forecast is problematic because it might rain.
✅The weather forecast is uncertain because it might rain.
💡'problematic' implies doubt about reliability, not just unpredictability of the outcome.
❌His answer was problematic — it was simply wrong.
✅His answer was incorrect.
💡Use 'problematic' when there is room for debate, not when something is clearly false.

3. containing ideas, language, or images that could offend, upset, or cause harm to

3.形容詞B2
釋義

不當的

具冒犯性或可能造成傷害的

containing ideas, language, or images that could offend, upset, or cause harm to certain groups of people

例句

Some viewers found the old comedy show problematic because of its racial jokes.

有些觀眾認為那部老喜劇節目因為種族笑話而內容不當。

register: used for media content that may offend

The mayor apologized for making a problematic comment during the town hall meeting.

市長為自己在市民大會上發表了不當言論而道歉。

collocation: problematic comment

同義詞
  • offensive

    stronger and more direct; implies clear intent or clear harm

  • objectionable

    more formal; focuses on the act of raising an objection

  • troubling

    softer; suggests discomfort or concern without specifying the cause

反義詞
  • acceptable

    suggests something meets social standards of appropriateness

  • inoffensive

    direct opposite; unlikely to cause any offense

用法筆記

This sense is common in discussions of media, public discourse, and education. It often refers to subtle or systemic harm — racism, sexism, ableism — rather than overt slurs. Distinguish from sense 1: the focus here is on social harm, not practical difficulty.

常見錯誤

❌I found the homework problematic.
✅I found the homework difficult.
💡Use sense 1 for practical difficulties. This sense (sense 3) refers specifically to content that may offend.
❌His joke was problematic and everyone laughed.
✅His joke was problematic because it made fun of a minority group.
💡The reason for calling something problematic needs to be explained; it is not a synonym for 'funny' or 'controversial.'

problematic — 名詞