irresolute

Examples

• All

• Part of Sean prayed for him to come; that other part, frightened and irresolute, hoped he would not.

  Fiction book (1999)

• The message was unmistakable, and so were its implications: The United States was weak and irresolute.

  Blog text (20)

• Furthermore, leading officials remain irresolute in implementing environmental policies.

  Academic text (2006)

• This trend helps explain the sometimes ambiguous or irresolute role of the U.S. abroad.

  Academic text (1990)

• However, due to its unprepared and irresolute leadership, it went down to a tragic defeat.

  Blog text (34)

• Little is likely to happen, at least until 1996, as a Republican majority forges ahead with its domestic reforms while an irresolute and divided administration catches up as well as it can.

  Academic text (1995)

• A thin, long-faced woman with an irresolute perm, she paused at the door and examined Bonnie with interest.

  Fiction book (2000)

• Edmund stood defiant, irresolute.

  Fiction book (1991)

• During the week before the wedding, Forrest deduced from a series of irresolute and ambiguous telephone calls that his mother wanted to attend the ceremony, if possible.

  Fiction book (1997)

• With every passing month, Barack Obama looks more and more like his Democratic predecessor, Jimmy Carter: irresolute, unsteady, and overmatched.

  Blog text (1)

Synonyms

H

hesitant

vsirresolute

73 3.2

Slow to act or speak because you feel unsure

highlights lack of confidence rather than broader determination issues

I

indecisive

vsirresolute

16 4.3

Slow to choose and unsure about what to do

is the same meaning, stressing slow decision and missing determination

F

feckless

vsirresolute

• Offensive

14 8.6

Shows little care or effort and fails to do things well

is about uncertainty and weak decision making, not necessarily irresponsibility

W

wishy-washy

vsirresolute

• Informal

12 7.3

Not firm or brave when making decisions

is a neutral inability to decide, not always implying personal weakness

V

vacillating

vsirresolute

1 8.1

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

is similar but centers on general lack of decision firmness

H

hesitating

vsirresolute

1 3.4

Slow to speak or act because unsure what to do

focuses on slowness rather than general lack of firmness

W

wavering

vsirresolute

5.3

Hesitating and unsure about a decision or action

emphasizes inability to make quick firm choices rather than being unsteady

V

vacillant

vsirresolute

• Archaic

9.9

Feeling unsure and unable to make a clear choice

expresses the same uncertainty and weak decision making

Antonyms

D

decisive

30 3.7

Able to choose quickly and firmly

R

resolute

21 4.9

Determined to do something and not likely to change

How Decisive

resolute

21 4.9

decisive

30 3.7

irresolute

1 8.2

tentative

57 5.1

hesitant

73 3.2

Surface Forms

Morphology

Etymology