doubtful implies little more than a lack of conviction or certainty.
doubtful about whether I said the right thing
dubious stresses suspicion, mistrust, or hesitation.
dubious about the practicality of the scheme
problematic applies especially to things whose existence, meaning, fulfillment, or realization is highly uncertain.
whether the project will ever be finished is problematic
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
Adjective Rules of grammar are more problematic for non-native speakers. the problematic situation of somehow having two dates for the same party
Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
Sarah, America tends to gloss over some of the more problematic parts of its history. Abc News, ABC News, 16 Sep. 2022 Anything that fell short of that qualification would have been problematic. Isaac Chotiner, The New Yorker, 13 Sep. 2022 The scoreboard side of the end zone has been problematic. Tom Green | Tgreen@al.com, al, 13 Sep. 2022 Some scientists have considered auction or private ownership of dinosaur skeletons like Zephyr to be problematic, while others also acknowledge that museum collecting has historically included acquisitions from commercial sources. Kristen Rogers, CNN, 12 Sep. 2022 Given Bukele’s autocratic tendencies, such centralized control could be problematic. Leo Schwartz, Fortune, 8 Sep. 2022 Republicans say the pledge is problematic given that DHS, through the Federal Emergency Management Agency, has given the Virgin Islands $5 billion since 2017 to rebuild its electrical grid. Haris Alic, Fox News, 8 Sep. 2022 The state’s shift to a warmer, drier climate also is problematic. Paighten Harkins, The Salt Lake Tribune, 8 Sep. 2022 Finding ethnic representation was also problematic. Anna Marie De La Fuente, Variety, 7 Sep. 2022
Noun
But many find the measurement of internal consistency problematic. Lydia Denworth, Scientific American, 1 Sep. 2017 Staging requirements make the SkyShow problematic now and virtually impossible once other phases of the project crowd the 166-acre property.San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Apr. 2022 See More