indecisive

adjective

in·​de·​ci·​sive ˌin-di-ˈsī-siv How to pronounce indecisive (audio)
1
: marked by or prone to indecision : irresolute
an indecisive state of mind
2
: not decisive : inconclusive
an indecisive battle
3
: not clearly marked out : indefinite
indecisively adverb
indecisiveness noun

Examples of indecisive in a Sentence

She's always been very indecisive.
Recent Examples on the Web Others caught him indecisive on tricky in-between hops that skipped by him. Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 31 Mar. 2024 For indecisive eaters who want it all, a three-hour food tour by The Tasting Tours offers the opportunity to sample some of the best dishes and drinks in the city. Jessica Poitevien, Travel + Leisure, 10 Feb. 2024 This highlights the enlivening effect of a plunge and suggests that people who are indecisive probably err too much on the side of caution. Jessica Dulong, CNN, 23 Feb. 2024 Allen appeared to be indecisive before launching the pass, but Shakir, who had a step on his defender with a skinny post route, was indeed the first option. USA TODAY, 22 Jan. 2024 For indecisive eaters or a group that can't seem to agree on one place for dinner, Miami has the answer in one of the many, often themed, food halls around the city. Jessica Poitevien, Travel + Leisure, 4 Mar. 2024 For a leader who painstakingly crafted a reputation as the arbiter of order, Putin looked detached and indecisive as Prigozhin’s ragtag mutineers made their way up the road to Moscow. William J. Burns, Foreign Affairs, 30 Jan. 2024 Although pathologically indecisive, Mr. Spitzer is tasked with finding a governess to raise Vera. Ryan Ruby, The New Yorker, 24 Oct. 2023 Joaquin Phoenix plays an infantile, cruel, indecisive and weak Napoleon. Zenger News, Forbes, 28 Nov. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'indecisive.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1726, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of indecisive was in 1726

Dictionary Entries Near indecisive

Cite this Entry

“Indecisive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/indecisive. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.

Kids Definition

indecisive

adjective
in·​de·​ci·​sive ˌin-di-ˈsī-siv How to pronounce indecisive (audio)
1
: not decisive or final
an indecisive battle
2
: finding it hard to make decisions
an indecisive person
indecisively adverb
indecisiveness noun
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!