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indecisive

indecisive

16 4.3
Slow to choose and unsure about what to do
  • adjective
  • /ˌɪndɪˈsaɪsɪv/
translation icon : indeciso
  • During the meeting, his indecisive responses frustrated the team as they sought clear plans.
  • weak and indecisive

The fastest way to lose respect of your team is to be indecisive and then to have double standards.

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Examples

  • I'm as indecisive as it gets.

  • Now imagine going to the movies with an indecisive friend.

  • I might be a little bit indecisive at times.

  • What I hate most is men who are indecisive!

  • The fastest way to lose respect of your team is to be indecisive and then to have double standards.

  • Most, like many Americans within city limits, were somewhat indecisive as to their future.

    Academic text (1990)
  • I'm so indecisive it's like torture.

  • If he seems indecisive, then that tells you for whatever reason he is not able right now to be what you need or to have a healthy relationship with you.

  • Castellon is an indecisive old man.

  • The only thing worse than being incompetent or being unkind or being evil is being indecisive.

Synonyms

undecided
vsindecisive
75 2.9

Not yet sure which option or side to choose

refers more to inability to decide quickly or lack of resolve
hesitant
vsindecisive
73 3.2

Slow to act or speak because you feel unsure

highlights lack of firmness and resolve rather than only low confidence
wishy-washy
vsindecisive
  • Informal
12 7.3

Not firm or brave when making decisions

is a neutral description of not deciding quickly or lacking resolve
noncommittal
vsindecisive
10 7.0

Not giving a clear answer or opinion

instead expresses inability to decide quickly or lacking internal resolve
of two minds
vsindecisive
  • Informal
4 6.7

Feeling unsure about which choice to make

describes inability to decide quickly without necessarily having conflicting views
irresolute
vsindecisive
1 8.2

Not able to make clear decisions quickly

stresses lack of firmness and resolve more than mere hesitation
vacillating
vsindecisive
1 8.1

Not able to make a firm decision and often changing their mind

highlights indecision because of lacking firmness and steady resolve
hesitating
vsindecisive
1 3.4

Slow to speak or act because unsure what to do

focuses instead on not making decisions quickly and lacking resolve
vacillant
vsindecisive
  • Archaic
9.9

Feeling unsure and unable to make a clear choice

focuses more on inability to make decisions quickly and lacking resolve

Antonyms

30 3.7

Able to choose quickly and firmly

How Indecisive

vacillating
1 8.1
indecisive
16 4.3
uncertain
43 3.9
hesitant
73 3.2

Surface Forms

indecisive positive
indecisiver comparative
indecisivest superlative

Morphology

indecisive = decisive (semi-transparent) = in + decis + ive

Negating 'decisive' with the common prefix 'in-' straightforwardly gives 'not decisive'.

Etymology

Indecisive starts with in- meaning 'not' and uses the base decide, the same root as decision, which originally meant 'to cut' and later came to mean 'to choose'. So an indecisive person is 'not choosing' quickly or clearly, which is why they cannot make firm decisions.