different between problematical vs complicated

English

Etymology

problematic +? -al

Adjective

problematical (comparative more problematical, superlative most problematical)

1. doubtful or disputed
2. dubious or ambiguous
   • 1924, Herman Melville, Billy Budd, London: Constable & Co., Chapter 8, [1]

     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.

Synonyms

• problematic

Translations

English

Pronunciation

• (General American) IPA^(key): /?k?mpl?ke?t?d/
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /?k?mpl?ke?t?d/
• Hyphenation: com?pli?cat?ed

Adjective

complicated (comparative more complicated, superlative most complicated)

1. Difficult or convoluted.

   It seems this complicated situation will not blow over soon.

   • Mind you, clothes were clothes in those days. […]  Frills, ruffles, flounces, lace, complicated seams and gores: not only did they sweep the ground and have to be held up in one hand elegantly as you walked along, but they had little capes or coats or feather boas.

2. (biology) Folded longitudinally (as in the wings of certain insects).

Antonyms

• simple

Translations

Verb

complicated

1. simple past tense and past participle of complicate

   The process of fixing the car engine was complicated by the lack of tools.