irresolute

Irresolute is an English adjective describing a person or decision characterized by a lack of determination or firmness. It denotes indecision, wavering, or hesitancy in making a choice, or a situation with unclear or tentative resolve. In literature and analysis, an irresolute character may hesitate to act, and a policy or plan may be described as irresolute when options remain unsettled or uncertain.

Etymology and sense: the word is formed with the negating prefix ir- attached to resolute, which derives from Latin resolutus, meaning “loosened” or “settled.” The modern sense—lacking resoluteness or clarity of purpose—emerged in English through early modern usage and is often contrasted with the opposite term resolute.

Usage notes: irresolute carries a mildly critical or evaluative tone, signaling a deficiency in decisiveness rather than a neutral state of uncertainty. It can apply to individuals, decisions, or processes that fail to reach a firm conclusion.

Form and related terms: the adverb form is irresolutely, the noun form is irresoluteness. Common synonyms include indecisive, wavering, vacillating, and hesitant; antonyms include decisive, resolute, and determined.