inconclusive

[ in-kuhn-kloo-siv ]

/ ˌɪn kənˈklu sɪv /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR inconclusive ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

not conclusive; not resolving fully all doubts or questions: inconclusive evidence.

without final results or outcome: inconclusive experiments.

Nearby words

Origin of inconclusive

First recorded in 1680–90; in-³ + conclusive

SYNONYMS FOR inconclusive

unsettled, indecisive, indefinite.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR inconclusive ON THESAURUS.COM

Related formsin·con·clu·sive·ly, adverbin·con·clu·sive·ness, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for inconclusive

But the available evidence is inconclusive about the effect of a small increase.
A Minimum Wage Increase Is Great, but Full Employment Would be Better|Jamelle Bouie|December 30, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Indeed, the available evidence is inconclusive on what will happen to employment with an increase at these levels.
Next Up for Democrats? A Push to Raise the Minimum Wage to $10|Jamelle Bouie|November 8, 2013|DAILY BEAST
“Uncertain,” “inconclusive,” “probably”—one would be alarmed to read such nervous gossip in a hack showbiz biog.
Did Hollywood Collaborate With Hitler? A New Book Makes Bold Claims.|Christopher Bray|September 9, 2013|DAILY BEAST
As a result, late on Thursday, Mr. Bersani told Italy's President Giorgio Napolitano that his talks had been inconclusive.
The State of Italy's Political System is... Terrible|Justin Green|March 29, 2013|DAILY BEAST

There was no direct retaliation—only a lot of inconclusive inquiries.
Where’s the Retaliation for American Deaths in Benghazi and Algeria?|John Avlon|January 24, 2013|DAILY BEAST
No case has been presented to me in which the evidence afforded of a continuance of disability seems so inconclusive.
A Compilation of the Messages and Papers of the Presidents|Grover Cleveland
This inconclusive result greatly disgusted all the Italian patriots.
Beacon Lights of History, Volume X|John Lord
Or shall we say: Insurrection has now served its Apprenticeship; and this was its proof-stroke, and no inconclusive one?
The French Revolution|Thomas Carlyle
He was interesting and inconclusive, and the original papers to which he referred her discursive were at best only suggestive.
Ann Veronica|H. G. Wells
The interpreter will discover, when he tries to read the monologue aloud, that his subjective studies were crude and inconclusive.
Browning and the Dramatic Monologue|S. S. Curry

British Dictionary definitions for inconclusive

inconclusive

/ (ˌɪnkənˈkluːsɪv) /

adjective

not conclusive or decisive; not finally settled; indeterminate

Derived Formsinconclusively, adverbinconclusiveness, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for inconclusive

inconclusive

adj.

1680s (implied in inconclusiveness), from in- (1) "not, opposite of" + conclusive. Related: Inconclusively.

inconclusive

adjective

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of inconclusive

Examples from the Web for inconclusive

British Dictionary definitions for inconclusive

inconclusive

adjective

Word Origin and History for inconclusive

inconclusive