problematize
verbUK /ˈpɹɒbləmətaɪz/ · US /ˈpɹɑbləmətaɪz/
Etymology From Ancient Greek πρόβλημα, προβλήματος (próblēma, problḗmatos) + English -ize.
1
To 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:
2
To 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
To propose problems.
- Hear him problematize.
- Derived terms
- deproblematize, problematizable, problematization, problematizer, reproblematize, unproblematized