Used by University lecturers to say they disagree with a piece of literature while not outwardly expressing that fact. There is often a long pause before this line is delivered often with pointless hand gestures.
Lecturer: I find David Starkey's work...................problematic.
by NagarPhunga April 03, 2017
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The go-to adjective for propagators of cancel culture to describe when someone has crossed the proverbial line. It sounds scary enough to spook corporate entities away, yet vague enough to simply be thrown around without adequate explanation.

Most often used by white 5th wave feminists on Twitter with an unchecked white savior complex. Said demographic is also commonly associated with festering daddy issues, thinly-veiled sexual deprivation, the glorification of mental illness, a sad addiction to performative activism, and the compulsive need to search for racist undertones in anything and everything.
Meg💛🍒🦋(she/her): "John Mulaney seems pretty problematic but like i couldn't tell you why, probably because he's a cis wh*te m*n sksksksksksksks. My paypal is in my bio :)"
by forsenbased April 08, 2021
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A tired and passive aggressive word used by sociology majors when they are too afraid to call someone racist, sexist, or homophobic.
Janet: I learned in Sociology 101 that David Duke is problematic.

Me: I think you mean racist.

Janet: Now you’re being problematic with your mansplaining.

Me: Just shut up.
by HM2013 April 06, 2019
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The ridiculous act of having things so good in society that one must make up reasons for conflicts or problems.
We must problematize the fact that the sky is blue, it's unfair to the other colors of the visible light spectrum. It's called ROYGBIV Karen not Blue Supremacy!
by DeezNutz)) November 02, 2018
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Being of extreme difficulty and just overall being extra for no reason. Causing problems for everyone because it's all they know how to do.
Nick,Gavin,and Ronnie are the most problematic squad at school.
by thrasher bitch September 08, 2017
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a word used by antis and gatekeepers in fandom to describe a fictional pairing (or even just a character) that they do not personally like. often used as an excuse to attack and gaslight shippers (people who do like the paring) and other fans.

some reasons for things being "problematic" are that they are considered abusive, the characters are/were enemies, one is a villain, there is a large age gap, there is a small age gap, the relationship is incestuous, the relationship *seems* incestuous, one character is a minor, both characters are minors, the anti does not like the ship personally, the relationship is gay and loved by women fans, the relationship is straight...the list goes on.
Anti: "you shouldn't ship reylo, it's very problematic."
Shipper: "i really shouldn't indulge you, but how?"
Anti: "it's abusive because they're enemies and kylo ren is a fascist. also rey is child-coded and they are cousins."
Shipper: "uh...what?"
by Maven Morozova January 21, 2021
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When asked by the service technician at the garage if his automobile transmission was a stick shift, Bubba, having just attained a GED, replied, "No, problematic."
by harry flashman September 01, 2003
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