adj · 5 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
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/ˌɪndɪˈsaɪsɪv/
Australia:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
rhymes with -aɪsɪv
CMU ARPABET:IH2 N D IH0 S AY1 S IH0 V
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
adj
Meaning 1
Of a person, not decisive, not marked by promptness or decision.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
They were all being very indecisive about what to wear to the party.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: ambivalent
Antonyms: decisive
2
adj
Meaning 2
Of a contest, etc., inconclusive or uncertain.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
The outcome of the race was so indecisive.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
adjective
Meaning 3
not definitely settling something
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
a long and indecisive war
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: decisive
4
adjective
Meaning 4
characterized by lack of decision and firmness
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
an indecisive manager brought the enterprise to a standstill
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: decisive
5
adjective satellite
Meaning 5
not clearly defined
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
indecisive boundaries running through mountains
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
History
Etymology
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *né Proto-Indo-European *n̥- Proto-Italic *n̥- Latin in-bor. Middle English in- English in- English decisive English indecisive From in- + decisive.
Across languages
Translations
68 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Arabic:
غَيْر حَاسِم
(ḡayr ḥāsim)
— not decisive
Arabic:
مُتَرَدِّد
(mutaraddid)
— not decisive
Armenian:
անվճռական
(anvčṙakan)
— not decisive
Armenian:
տատանվող
(tatanvoġ)
— not decisive
Bulgarian:
нерешителен
(nerešitelen)
— not decisive
Bulgarian:
колеблив
(kolebliv)
— not decisive
Catalan:
indecís
— not decisive
Catalan:
vel·leïtós
— not decisive
Chinese Mandarin:
優柔寡斷的 /优柔寡断的
(yōuróuguǎduàn de)
— not decisive
Chinese Mandarin:
猶豫不決的 /犹豫不决的
— not decisive
Chinese Mandarin:
犹豫不决的
(yóuyùbùjué de)
— not decisive
Czech:
nerozhodný
— not decisive
Czech:
váhavý
— not decisive
Danish:
ubeslutsom
— not decisive
Danish:
vægelsindet
— not decisive
Dutch:
besluiteloos
— not decisive
Finnish:
päättämätön
— not decisive
Finnish:
jahkaileva
— not decisive
Finnish:
epävarma
— not decisive
French:
indécis
— not decisive
Galician:
indeciso
— not decisive
Galician:
inseguro
— not decisive
German:
unschlüssig
— not decisive
German:
unentschlossen
— not decisive
Greek:
άβουλος
(ávoulos)
— not decisive
Hindi:
अनिश्चित
(aniścit)
— not decisive
Italian:
indeciso
— not decisive
Latin:
ambiguus
— not decisive
Māori:
aroarorua
— not decisive
Māori:
kōpūrua
— not decisive
Māori:
whēangaanga
— not decisive
Middle English:
unstedefast
— not decisive
Norwegian Bokmål:
ubesluttsom
— not decisive
Occitan:
velleïtós
— not decisive
Occitan:
indecís
— not decisive
Polish:
niezdecydowany
— not decisive
Portuguese:
indeciso
— not decisive
Russian:
нереши́тельный
(nerešítelʹnyj)
— not decisive
Slovak:
váhavý
— not decisive
Slovak:
nerozhodný
— not decisive
Spanish:
indeciso
— not decisive
Spanish:
irresoluto
— not decisive
Spanish:
vacilante
— not decisive
Spanish:
inseguro
— not decisive
Spanish:
titubeante
— not decisive
Swedish:
velig
— not decisive
Swedish:
obeslutsam
— not decisive
Swedish:
villrådig
— not decisive
Swedish:
tvehågsen
— not decisive
Swedish:
vankelmodig
— not decisive
Tagalog:
urong-sulong
— not decisive
Turkish:
kararsız
— not decisive
Bulgarian:
несигурен
(nesiguren)
— inconclusive or uncertain
Bulgarian:
неизвестен
(neizvesten)
— inconclusive or uncertain
Bulgarian:
неясен
(nejasen)
— inconclusive or uncertain
Bulgarian:
неопределен
(neopredelen)
— inconclusive or uncertain
Dutch:
onbeslist
— inconclusive or uncertain
Finnish:
ratkaisematon
— inconclusive or uncertain
French:
incertain
— inconclusive or uncertain
German:
unentschlossen
— inconclusive or uncertain
Hindi:
अनिश्चित
(aniścit)
— inconclusive or uncertain
Polish:
nierozstrzygnięty
— inconclusive or uncertain
Polish:
nierozstrzygający
— inconclusive or uncertain
Portuguese:
indeciso
— inconclusive or uncertain
Russian:
нея́сный
(nejásnyj)
— inconclusive or uncertain
Russian:
неопределённый
(neopredeljónnyj)
— inconclusive or uncertain
