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Synonyms

unresolved

British  
/ ˌʌnrɪˈzɒlvd /

adjective

  1. (of a problem or dispute) not having been solved or concluded

"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

Explanation

The word unresolved may describe an argument that has not been solved, a question that remains unanswered, or a decision that has not been made — like the title of "Checkers Champion" after a tie game. The word unresolved is used for a situation that lacks a resolution, or ending. It can also describe unaddressed emotions, such as anger or sadness, as in the unresolved issues you have toward your hamster ever since it bit your finger. The word unresolved can also be used to describe musical dissonance — if you hear a chord in a symphony that makes you think the song isn’t over, the chord is probably unresolved.

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Vocabulary lists containing unresolved

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.

Still, there could be other unresolved issues that investors may need to contend with over the coming weeks.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 11, 2026

The U.S. and Iran reach a last-minute cease-fire agreement, leading to a two-week truce despite unresolved issues.

From Barron's • Apr. 8, 2026

For that reason, some analysts believe the likely outcome is a narrow agreement that halts the fighting but leaves many of the major issues unresolved.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 8, 2026

This unresolved issue is known as the "hard problem" of consciousness.

From Science Daily • Apr. 6, 2026

Many of these issues remain unresolved to this day; one can only imagine the ferocity of the debate that raged when they were new.

From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik