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Showing results for unresolved. Search instead for unresolvedness.
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.

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Three years ago at Telluride, the yearning romantic fantasy “All of Us Strangers” memorably premiered, featuring Scott playing a character who worked through unresolved trauma by talking to the dead.

From Los Angeles Times Sep. 5, 2026

Yet, three years later, that insurgency remains unresolved.

From BBC Sep. 5, 2026

Discovering what dark matter is made of remains one of the most important unresolved problems in modern physics.

From Science Daily Sep. 4, 2026

The decision means construction can continue for now, while a lawsuit brought by the National Trust for Historic Preservation remains unresolved in lower courts.

From Barron's Aug. 31, 2026

Hence I suspect that Clovis hunters did it, but the debate remains unresolved.

From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond

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