indecisiveadj.
/ɪndɪˈsʌɪsɪv/ 1. Not decisive; not such as to decide or settle (a question, contest, etc.); inconclusive.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > belief > uncertainty, doubt, hesitation > insecure knowledge, uncertainty > questionable state or quality > [adjective] > incapable of being decided
indeterminable1611
undeterminablea1639
undecidable1640
inconcludinga1644
indijudicable1660
undecisive1661
fallible1664
inconcludent1671
inconclusive1700
indecisive1726
1726 G. Berkeley Let. to T. Prior 12 Nov. in A. C. Fraser Life & Lett. G. Berkeley (1871) iv. 137 The observations you have sent are..so ambiguous and indecisive as to puzzle only.
1798 W. Taylor in Monthly Mag. 5 4 An indecisive passage of Deuteronomy.
1855 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. IV. xix. 275 On the Upper Rhine..an indecisive predatory war was carried on.
1878 E. Dowden Stud. Lit. 134 In place of truth he found only a conflict of indecisive reasonings.
2. Characterized by indecision; undecided; hesitating; irresolute.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > will > decision > irresolution or vacillation > [adjective]
twiredec888
orrathc1175
twofoldc1175
twifoldc1200
waveringc1315
uncertain1382
suspensec1440
mammeringa1450
flowing?1504
floghtering1521
vacillant1521
in a mammering1532
double-minded1552
unstaid1561
unresolute1570
unresolved?1571
staggeringa1577
frittle1579
irresolute1579
cheverel1583
off and on1583
halting1585
unsettleda1593
unresolving1599
demurring1607
waving1611
suspensive1614
hoveringa1616
startling1619
irresolved1621
hesitating1622
indetermined1628
variousa1643
branling1645
hesitant1647
non-sincere1656
hesitatious1657
humdrum1660
shuttlecock1660
yea-and-nay1672
swaying1688
interpendent1708
undetermined1718
Squadronec1720
hesitatorya1734
volanta1734
shilly-shally1734
dilly-dally1749
niffy-naffy1765
wiggle-waggle1778
undecided1779
undecisive1780
indecisive1787
conflicted1789
hesitative1795
undeciding1802
vacillating1814
yea-nay1827
demurrant1836
willy-nilly1839
shilly-shallying1842
oscillative1852
Hamletish1854
vacillatory1854
dilly-dallying1879
thistledown1897
weak-principled1913
not-quite1920
off-again on-again1923
dithery1931
havering1975
1787 T. Jefferson Writings (1859) II. 155 An honester man cannot be found, nor a slower, nor a more indecisive one.
1824 W. Taylor in Monthly Rev. 103 32 Somewhat indecisive about his future place of residence.
1843 J. B. Mozley Strafford in Ess. (1878) I. 75 Perplexed and indecisive whether to go forwards or backwards.
3. Uncertain, doubtful; not definite, indistinct.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > belief > uncertainty, doubt, hesitation > insecure knowledge, uncertainty > [adjective] > obscure, vague
cloudyc1400
indeterminatec1400
diffuse1430
diffused?1456
obscure?a1475
infinite1520
ambiguous1529
indistincta1530
nubilous1533
dark1557
undetermined1588
undefinite1589
undeterminate1603
indetermined1611
undefined1611
suspense1624
umbrageous1635
clouded1641
undeterminated1641
fuliginous1646
implicit1660
vague1690
diffusive1709
nubilose1730
foggy1737
unliquidated1780
hazy1781
indecisive1815
nebulous1817
penumbral1819
aoristic1846
scumbled1868
nubiform1873
out-of-focus1891
fuzzy1937
soft focus1938
1815 J. Scott Visit to Paris App. p. lxvii As if on purpose to render indecisive..the hope of that immortality which is one of the noblest prerogatives of our being.
1822 J. M. Good Study Med. I. 392 As there is much obscurity in this disease, its medical treatment is indecisive.
1874 T. Hardy Far from Madding Crowd II. i. 15 A contrasting prospect eastward, in the shape of indecisive and palpitating stars.
Derivatives
indeˈcisively adv.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > will > decision > irresolution or vacillation > [adverb]
in a waver1519
uncertainly1555
waveringlya1603
irresolutely1617
unresolvedly1621
off and ona1641
hesitantly1660
humdrum1660
irresolvedly1680
undecisively1771
hesitatingly1800
on or upon the waver1806
indecisively1828
vacillatinglya1849
oscillatively1852
hesitatively1881
shakenly1890
1828 in N. Webster Amer. Dict. Eng. Lang.
1869 M. Pattison Serm. (1885) 180 Whether Christian or deist, or wavering indecisively between the two.
1900 N.E.D. at Indecisive Mod. The first day's struggle had ended indecisively.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1900; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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adj.1726