decisiveness

American

[dih-sahy-siv-nis] / dɪˈsaɪ sɪv nɪs /

noun

the quality of determining an outcome or of settling or resolving a question.

All the facts point to the decisiveness of that battle, to it being the turning point of the war.
the characteristic or practice of deciding or acting without hesitation; resoluteness.

When buying real estate, decisiveness and patience are a rare but valuable and complementary combination.
the quality of being unquestionable or definite.

This was the team’s most complete effort yet, as demonstrated by the decisiveness of the win—an impressive 62–21!

Other Word Forms

nondecisiveness noun

Etymology

Origin of decisiveness

decisive ( def. ) + -ness ( def. )

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.

She is especially popular with younger voters who say they are drawn to her decisiveness, easygoing public persona and the fact that she is a woman at the top of the Japanese government.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 6, 2026

Is there a parallel between his unruffled personality and his decisiveness on track?

From BBC • May 22, 2025

The evaluator's rubric has six criteria to consider when determining the scores of the interview: intimacy, social desirability, general job abilities, decisiveness, cooperativeness and overall hireability.

From Science Daily • Jun. 17, 2024

The Met players and their music director, Yannick Nézet-Séguin, a conductor who shapes scores with strength and decisiveness, are experts at underlining a specific emotional intention in grand-opera style.

From New York Times • Feb. 2, 2024

Finally Winslow exhibited the decisiveness that later led to his selection as colony governor.

From "1491" by Charles C. Mann

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023