Standard Lemma guide

irresolution

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.

  • UK: /ɪɹɛzəˈluːʃən/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

noun

Meaning 1

Lack of resolution; lack of decision or purpose; vacillation.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

the trait of being irresolute; lacking firmness of purpose

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: irresoluteness

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: trait

Narrower terms: volatility, unpredictability, indecisiveness, indecision

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: indecision, indecisiveness

Antonyms: none provided

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

Narrower terms: hesitation, vacillation, wavering

History

Etymology

Probably from Middle French irresolution (modern French irrésolution), from ir- + resolution (“resolution”); compare Italian irresoluzione. By surface analysis, ir- + resolution.

Across languages

Translations

14 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: нерешителност (nerešitelnost) — lack of resolution or decision — see also indecision
  • Bulgarian: несигурност (nesigurnost) — lack of resolution or decision — see also indecision
  • Catalan: irresolució — lack of resolution or decision — see also indecision
  • French: irrésolution — lack of resolution or decision — see also indecision
  • Georgian: ყოყმანი (q̇oq̇mani) — lack of resolution or decision — see also indecision
  • Georgian: მერყეობა (merq̇eoba) — lack of resolution or decision — see also indecision
  • Georgian: გადაუწყვეტლობა (gadauc̣q̇veṭloba) — lack of resolution or decision — see also indecision
  • Georgian: ორჭოფობა (orč̣opoba) — lack of resolution or decision — see also indecision
  • Ancient Greek: ἀβουλία (aboulía) — lack of resolution or decision — see also indecision
  • Italian: irresoluzione — lack of resolution or decision — see also indecision
  • Old English: unbieldu — lack of resolution or decision — see also indecision
  • Polish: niezdecydowanie — lack of resolution or decision — see also indecision
  • Spanish: irresolución — lack of resolution or decision — see also indecision
  • Ukrainian: нерішу́чість (nerišúčistʹ) — lack of resolution or decision — see also indecision