problems

noun

plural of problem
1
as in challenges
something that requires thought and skill for resolution the problem of world hunger

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in questions
an interrogative expression often used to test knowledge there were only 10 problems on the exam, but they were all challenging

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of problems While persistently defiant in the face of US threats, Iranian officials have acknowledged mounting economic and social problems after five months of conflict. — Sophie Tanno, CNN Money, 2 Aug. 2026 The low-lying parts of the western Netherlands that are reclaimed land suffer increasingly from salinity in droughts, posing problems for farmers who grow fruit and vegetables in the fertile soil. — ABC News, 2 Aug. 2026 Pastore, who was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2014 and survived, did not have any health problems at the time of his death, his friend Stephen Villano told reporters outside Pastore’s home Saturday evening. — Julian Roberts-Grmela, New York Daily News, 1 Aug. 2026 The standard policy prescription to combat these problems focuses on lobbyists and elites. — Susan Ostermann, Mercury News, 1 Aug. 2026 Chan has countered that San Francisco’s affordability problems cannot be solved through market-rate housing alone. — Barnini Chakraborty, The Washington Examiner, 1 Aug. 2026 Alignment, in other words, is turning out to be not a problem but a set of problems. — Joshua Rothman, New Yorker, 1 Aug. 2026 There are tremendous challenges around delivering this in practice given the differing problems and motivations across continents and federations. — Simon Hughes, New York Times, 1 Aug. 2026 Rather than treating those tensions as problems to be solved, Scoot understands that the future of luxury depends on balancing them, rather than choosing between them. — Jeetendr Sehdev, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for problems
  1. challenges
  2. questions
  3. issues
  4. matters
  5. troubles
Noun
  • Graves said recruiting and retaining officers remains one of the biggest challenges facing whoever takes over for her, along with continuing to embrace technology and modern policing.
    — Ben Wheeler, Kansas City Star, 31 July 2026
  • Experts expect the hotter, drier summers to continue, and that means that there is no end in sight to the challenges for firefighters.
    — Tom Wait, CBS News, 31 July 2026
Definition of challenges
Noun
  • Indeed, Microsoft was enjoying its stock rising almost 2% from that cloud growth after Wednesday’s close of market as Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg fielded questions from analysts wondering why his company wouldn’t do the same.
    — Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 30 July 2026
  • The report noted that seven Miami-Dade building officials did not submit information to the state, and analysts said Aventura did not respond to questions about whether any buildings had been vacated.
    — David Smiley, Miami Herald, 30 July 2026
Definition of questions
Noun
  • Ever since the issues at the Pfizer project, also led by Gensler, the city has ramped up inspections at other construction sites, said Ryan Degan, a spokesman for the city’s Department of Buildings.
    — Samantha Delouya, CNN Money, 30 July 2026
  • The department even dealt with budgetary issues tied to the millions of dollars in settlement payouts, as well as overtime, just this year.
    — Ben Wheeler, Kansas City Star, 30 July 2026
Definition of issues
Noun
  • Fischer studies cultural anthropology, specializing in matters of economics and moralities.
    — Big Think, Big Think, 2 Aug. 2026
  • Details of the investigation remain sparse, and Belichick did little to clarify matters, appearing to sidestep questions about how Lombardi’s indefinite absence could affect the team.
    — Chantz Martin, FOXNews.com, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of matters
Noun
  • Thanks to these troubles, the Kremlin is losing support at home.
    — Alexander Gabuev, Foreign Affairs, 31 July 2026
  • Trying to hold on to his seat amid a slew of legal troubles, the incumbent will face Democratic candidate Brian Poindexter in November.
    — David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 30 July 2026
Definition of troubles

Browse Nearby Words

problematic
problems
pro bono
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Cite this Entry

“Problems.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/problems. Accessed 5 Aug. 2026.

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