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irresolute

[ih-rez-uh-loot]
See more synonyms for irresolute on Thesaurus.com
adjective
  1. not resolute; doubtful; infirm of purpose; vacillating.
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Origin of irresolute

First recorded in 1565–75; ir-2 + resolute
Related formsir·res·o·lute·ly, adverbir·res·o·lute·ness, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words

doubtfulfearfulficklehalfheartedhaltinghesitanthesitatinginfirmshakytentativetimiduncertainundecidedundeterminedunsettledunstableunsteadyvacillatingwaveringweak

Examples from the Web for irresolute

Historical Examples

  • There was nothing more to say--time pressed--yet I lingered dumb and irresolute.

    In the Valley

    Harold Frederic

  • "No," said the poor novice; but the denial came faint and irresolute from her lips.

    Leila, Complete

    Edward Bulwer-Lytton

  • He was a peculiar man, to begin with—and an irresolute man, to end with.

    Blood and Iron

    John Hubert Greusel

  • For Hutchinson, poorly supported and irresolute, the strain was too great.

  • He remained before it, irresolute, like a fugitive, like a man betrayed.

British Dictionary definitions for irresolute

irresolute

adjective
  1. lacking resolution; wavering; hesitating
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Derived Formsirresolutely, adverbirresoluteness or irresolution, 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 irresolute

adj.

1570s, from Latin irresolutus, from assimilated form of in- "not, opposite of" (see in- (1)) + resolutus (see resolute). Related: Irresolutely.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper