indeciso

Indeciso is an adjective used in Spanish and Italian to describe someone who tends to be unable to decide or who regularly delays choosing between options. It corresponds to the English term indecisive and can apply to people, behavior, or situations.

The word derives from Latin indecisus, formed from in- (not) plus decisus (decided), itself from decidere (to decide). It entered the Romance languages with a similar form and meaning, retaining the sense of lacking a firm decision.

In everyday language, indecisiveness can be a temporary state or a more persistent trait. Contributing factors often include risk aversion, information overload, fear of making the wrong choice, or anxiety. Indecisiveness may lead to hesitation, overanalysis, or avoidance of commitment, and it can affect personal decisions, career planning, and interpersonal relations.

In psychology and cultural contexts, indecisiveness is frequently discussed as a trait or cognitive state. It is sometimes distinguished from ambivalence and described in terms such as analysis paralysis or decision paralysis when the individual is overwhelmed by options. In literature, film, and everyday discourse, indecisive characters are used to explore themes of self-doubt, growth, and the process of choosing one path over another.

Overall, indeciso denotes a quality or condition of hesitation in decision making, with variations in intensity and duration across individuals and situations.