inconclusive
Americanadjective
-
not conclusive; not resolving fully all doubts or questions.
inconclusive evidence.
-
without final results or outcome.
inconclusive experiments.
adjective
Other Word Forms
- inconclusively adverb
- inconclusiveness noun
Etymology
Origin of inconclusive
First recorded in 1680–90; in- 3 + conclusive
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.
A leadership change and inconclusive evidence of artificial-intelligence momentum left Adobe investors with more questions than answers after Thursday’s earnings report.
From MarketWatch • Mar. 13, 2026
Independent polling has painted an inconclusive picture about which Democratic candidate would be more competitive in November.
From Salon • Mar. 2, 2026
On Monday, the Pima County Sheriff’s Department addressed reports that there may be video of the suspect at Guthrie’s door on a day prior to her abduction, saying it was inconclusive.
From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 24, 2026
Gold prices climbed back above $5,000, as inconclusive U.S.-Iran nuclear talks and concerns over potential military escalation boost the metal’s appeal.
From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 19, 2026
Disease usually results from inconclusive negotiations for symbiosis, an overstepping of the line by one side or the other, a biologic misinterpretation of borders.
From "The Lives of a Cell" by Lewis Thomas
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.
