resolute
Americanadjective
-
firmly resolved or determined; set in purpose or opinion.
Her parents wanted her to marry, but she was focused on her education and remained resolute.
-
characterized by firmness and determination, as the temper, spirit, actions, etc..
The mayor was asked to take resolute action against the looters.
- Synonyms:
- undaunted
adjective
-
firm in purpose or belief; steadfast
-
characterized by resolution; determined
a resolute answer
Related Words
See earnest 1.
Other Word Forms
- overresolute adjective
- overresoluteness noun
- resolutely adverb
- resoluteness noun
- semiresolute adjective
- semiresoluteness noun
- unresolute adjective
- unresoluteness noun
Etymology
Origin of resolute
First recorded in 1375–1425 for earlier sense “dissolved”; 1525–35 for current senses; late Middle English, from Latin resolūtus, past participle of the verb resolvere resolve
Explanation
Use the adjective resolute to describe a purposeful and determined person, someone who wants to do something very much, and won't let anything get in the way. "Milo thought for just a moment and then, with a resolute 'I shall,' volunteered to go," Norton Juster writes in the classic children's novel The Phantom Tollbooth. From the way Milo said "I shall," we can infer that he was quite confident in his split-second decision, or at least made himself appear to be so. Some near-synonyms for this word include resolved, adamant, unswerving, and unwavering. If you make a "resolute refusal" of something, you're declaring you don't like it and never will.
Vocabulary lists containing resolute
The Tragedy of Macbeth
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Beowulf
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Things Fall Apart
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Its social contract is built on uncompromising moral standards, an emphasis on resolute social justice, and, of course, a distaste for those who fail to properly share those values.
From Slate • Apr. 13, 2026
Those sources are resolute in the face of discomfort among Labour MPs.
From BBC • Mar. 21, 2026
Regardless, Operation Desert Storm was a decisive victory, in part thanks to resolute and thoughtful leaders such as Mr. Hertling.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 9, 2026
Let’s hope that we can knock over that house of cards with peace walks and other forms of calm, resolute resistance.
From Salon • Feb. 13, 2026
Mrs. Dodson was a tall, brown-skinned woman with an intelligent, pleasant face anchored by a resolute lower lip that signaled that she would put up with no nonsense whatsoever.
From "Bad Boy" by Walter Dean Myers
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
