Standard Lemma guide

problematize

verb · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • Received-Pronunciation: /ˈpɹɒbləmətaɪz/
  • General-American: /ˈpɹɑbləmətaɪz/

1

verb

Meaning 1

To make something into a problem.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: problem

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To consider something as if it were a problem.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

To propose problems.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: intransitive

Examples

  • Hear him problematize.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *per-der.? Proto-Indo-European *per-der.? Proto-Indo-European *pér Proto-Indo-European *-o Proto-Indo-European *próder. Ancient Greek πρό (pró) Ancient Greek προ- (pro-) Proto-Indo-European *gwelH-der. Proto-Hellenic *gwəlnō Ancient Greek βάλλω (bállō) Ancient Greek προβάλλω (probállō) Proto-Indo-European *-mn̥ Ancient Greek -μᾰ (-mă) Ancient Greek πρόβλημα, προβλήματος (próblēma, problḗmatos) Proto-Indo-European *-id- Proto-Indo-European *-yéti Proto-Indo-European *-idyéti Proto-Hellenic *-íďďō Ancient Greek -ῐ́ζω (-ĭ́zō)bor. Late Latin -izōder. Middle French -iserbor. Middle English -isen English -ize English problematize From Ancient Greek πρόβλημα, προβλήματος (próblēma, problḗmatos) + English -ize.

Across languages

Translations

8 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Danish: problematisere — to consider something as if it were a problem
  • Finnish: käsittää ongelmaksi — to consider something as if it were a problem
  • French: problématiser — to consider something as if it were a problem
  • German: problematisieren — to consider something as if it were a problem
  • Polish: problematyzować — to consider something as if it were a problem
  • Russian: проблематизи́ровать (problematizírovatʹ) — to consider something as if it were a problem
  • Russian: проблематизова́ть (problematizovátʹ) — to consider something as if it were a problem
  • Swedish: problematisera — to consider something as if it were a problem