problematical

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adjective

Doubtful or disputed.

Similar
problematicdebatablequestionablebafflingelusiveknottytoughdifficult
UncommonScrabble 21
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Meanings

adjectiveproblematical (comparative more problematical, superlative most problematical)

comparative more problematical · superlative most problematical

  1. Doubtful or disputed.
  2. Dubious or ambiguous.

    The salt seer attentively listened, accompanying the Foretopman's recital with queer twitchings of his wrinkles and problematical little sparkles of his small ferret eyes.

    1924, Herman Melville, chapter 8, in Billy Budd, London: Constable & Co.

Synonyms & antonyms

Similar
problematic

adjectiveopen to doubt or debate

Similar
debatableproblematicquestionable

adjectivemaking great mental demands; hard to comprehend or solve or believe

Similar
bafflingelusiveknottyproblematictoughdifficulthard
Also see
bafflingdebatableelusiveknottyproblematicquestionabletough

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

From Latin problēmaticus + -al. By surface analysis, problematic + -al.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

problematical. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/problematical

MLA

“problematical.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/problematical. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “problematical,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/problematical.

Source: problematical on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.