Standard Lemma guide

indecision

noun · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • /ɪndɪˈsɪʒən/ weak vowel distinction
  • [ɪndɪˈsɪʒən] ~ [ɪndɪˈsɪʒn̩] weak vowel distinction
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • /ɪndəˈsɪʒən/ weak vowel merger
  • [ɪndəˈsɪʒən] ~ [ɪndɪˈsɪʒn̩] weak vowel merger
  • rhymes with -ɪʒən
  • CMU ARPABET: IH2 N D IH0 S IH1 ZH AH0 N Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

noun

Meaning 1

The inability to decide on a course of action, especially if two or more possibilities exist.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: uncountable, usually

Examples

  • Billy Toad has shown extreme indecision in all aspects when it comes to his jeep. Whether it's how to modify it, or if he will sell it.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: indecisiveness

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

the trait of irresolution; a lack of firmness of character or purpose

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • the king's incurable indecisiveness caused turmoil in his court

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: indecisiveness

Antonyms: decision

Broader terms: irresoluteness, irresolution

3

noun

Meaning 3

doubt concerning two or more possible alternatives or courses of action

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • his indecision was only momentary but the opportunity was lost

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: indecisiveness, irresolution

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: doubt, uncertainty, incertitude, dubiety, doubtfulness, dubiousness

Narrower terms: hesitation, vacillation, wavering

History

Etymology

From French indécision.

Across languages

Translations

34 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Arabic: تَرَدُّد (taraddud) — inability to decide on a course of action
  • Bulgarian: нерешителност (nerešitelnost) — inability to decide on a course of action
  • Bulgarian: колебливост (koleblivost) — inability to decide on a course of action
  • Catalan: indecisió — inability to decide on a course of action
  • Chinese Mandarin: 優柔寡斷 /优柔寡断 (yōuróuguǎduàn) — inability to decide on a course of action
  • Czech: nerozhodnost — inability to decide on a course of action
  • Dutch: besluiteloosheid — inability to decide on a course of action
  • Finnish: epäröinti — inability to decide on a course of action
  • Finnish: päättämättömyys — inability to decide on a course of action
  • French: indécision — inability to decide on a course of action
  • French: irrésolution — inability to decide on a course of action
  • German: Unentschlossenheit — inability to decide on a course of action
  • German: Unschlüssigkeit — inability to decide on a course of action
  • Greek: αναποφασιστικότητα (anapofasistikótita) — inability to decide on a course of action
  • Greek: δισταγμός (distagmós) — inability to decide on a course of action
  • Ancient Greek: ἀβουλία (aboulía) — inability to decide on a course of action
  • Hindi: अनिश्चय (aniścay) — inability to decide on a course of action
  • Ido: nedecideso — inability to decide on a course of action
  • Ido: nedecidemeso — inability to decide on a course of action
  • Italian: indecisione — inability to decide on a course of action
  • Italian: tiremmolla — inability to decide on a course of action
  • Italian: inconcludenza — inability to decide on a course of action
  • Japanese: 優柔不断 (yūjūfudan) — inability to decide on a course of action
  • Middle English: unstedefastnesse — inability to decide on a course of action
  • Norwegian Bokmål: ubesluttsomhet — inability to decide on a course of action
  • Polish: niezdecydowanie — inability to decide on a course of action
  • Portuguese: indecisão — inability to decide on a course of action
  • Russian: нереши́тельность (nerešítelʹnostʹ) — inability to decide on a course of action
  • Russian: нереши́мость (nerešímostʹ) — inability to decide on a course of action
  • Spanish: indecisión — inability to decide on a course of action
  • Spanish: irresolución — inability to decide on a course of action
  • Swedish: obeslutsamhet — inability to decide on a course of action
  • Swedish: vankelmod — inability to decide on a course of action
  • Swedish: velighet — inability to decide on a course of action
Real reading context

indecision in complete knowledge articles

When You Trap a Tiger Literature & books · Challenging · 1 uses