problematize

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UK/ˈpɹɒbləmətaɪz/US/ˈpɹɑbləmətaɪz/

verb

To make something into a problem.

“Hear him problematize.”

Similar
problem
OriginAncient Greek πρόβλημα, προβλήματος (próblēma, problḗmatos) ← Proto-Hellenic *gʷəlnō ← Proto-Indo-European *gʷelH- →
Scrabble 27
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Meanings

verbproblematize (third-person singular simple present problematizes, present participle problematizing, simple past and past participle problematized)

present singular third person problematizes · participle present problematizing · participle past problematized · past problematized · alternative problematise

  1. transitiveTo make something into a problem.

    "If the mob are involved in building a casino," Tina says, "offing some guy who's problematizing their plans is nothing to them. […]

    2021, Cate Quinn, Black Widows, page 289

    Synonyms: problem

  2. transitiveTo consider something as if it were a problem.

    Dr Allen said it could affect social cohesion and potentially drive harmful rhetoric around migration when Australia's population change was problematised.

    2024 September 19, Ahmed Yussuf, “Australia's population reaches 27 million with growth largely driven by overseas migration”, in ABC News, Australian Broadcasting Corporation
  3. intransitiveTo propose problems.

    Hear him problematize.

Synonyms & antonyms

verbTo make something into a problem.

Similar
problem

Origin

  1. Proto-Indo-European*per-der.?
  2. Proto-Indo-European*pér
  3. Proto-Indo-European*pró
  4. Ancient Greekπρό (pró)
  5. Ancient Greekπρο- (pro-)
  6. Proto-Indo-European*gʷelH-
  7. Proto-Hellenic*gʷəlnō
  8. Ancient Greekβάλλω (bállō)
  9. Ancient Greekπροβάλλω (probállō)
  10. Ancient Greekπρόβλημα, προβλήματος (próblēma, problḗmatos)
  11. Englishproblematize

From Ancient Greek πρόβλημα, προβλήματος (próblēma, problḗmatos) + English -ize.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Danish problematisere
  • problematisereto consider something as if it were a problem
Finnish käsittää ongelmaksi
  • käsittää ongelmaksito consider something as if it were a problem
French problématiser
  • problématiserto consider something as if it were a problem
German problematisieren
  • problematisierento consider something as if it were a problem
Polish problematyzować
  • problematyzowaćto consider something as if it were a problem
Russian проблематизи́ровать, проблематизова́ть
  • проблематизи́ровать (problematizírovatʹ)to consider something as if it were a problem
  • проблематизова́ть (problematizovátʹ)to consider something as if it were a problem
Swedish problematisera
  • problematiserato consider something as if it were a problem
Cite this entry
APA

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

MLA

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

Chicago

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

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