indecision

in·de·ci·sion
I1N1D2E1C3I1S1I1O1N1
/ɪndɪˈsɪʒən/[ɪndɪˈsɪʒən] ~ [ɪndɪˈsɪʒn̩]/ɪndəˈsɪʒən/[ɪndəˈsɪʒən] ~ [ɪndɪˈsɪʒn̩]

noun

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

“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.”

Opposite
Less commonScrabble 13

Meanings

nounindecision (usually uncountable, plural indecisions)

plural indecisions

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

    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.

    3 more examples

    There was no indecision or delay in the establishment of their relations; Rebecca's heart flew like an arrow to its mark, and her mind, meeting its superior, settled at once into an abiding attitude of respectful homage.

    1903, Kate Douglas Wiggin, chapter 21, in Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm

    Moreover, in view of the lamentable present indecision of the Government in regard to electrification, the large-scale building of diesel power may prove to have been a farseeing move after all.

    1961 February, Cecil J. Allen, “Locomotive Running Past and Present”, in Trains Illustrated, page 86

    I can't stand this indecision Married with a lack of vision Everybody wants to rule the—

    1985, Roland Orzabal, Ian Stanley, Chris Hughes, “Everybody Wants to Rule the World”, in Songs from the Big Chair, performed by Tears for Fears

    Synonyms: indecisiveness

Synonyms & antonyms

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

More synonyms by meaning

noundoubt concerning two or more possible alternatives or courses of action

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

Opposite

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Frenchindécision
  2. Englishindecision

From French indécision.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Ancient Greek ἀβουλία
  • ἀβουλία (aboulía)inability to decide on a course of action
Arabic تَرَدُّد
  • تَرَدُّد (taraddud)inability to decide on a course of action
Bulgarian нерешителност, колебливост
  • нерешителност (nerešitelnost)inability to decide on a course of action
  • колебливост (koleblivost)inability to decide on a course of action
Catalan indecisió
  • indecisióinability to decide on a course of action
Chinese Mandarin 優柔寡斷 /优柔寡断
  • 優柔寡斷 /优柔寡断 (yōuróuguǎduàn)inability to decide on a course of action
Czech nerozhodnost
  • nerozhodnostinability to decide on a course of action
Dutch besluiteloosheid
  • besluiteloosheidinability to decide on a course of action
Finnish epäröinti, päättämättömyys
  • epäröintiinability to decide on a course of action
  • päättämättömyysinability to decide on a course of action
French indécision, irrésolution
  • indécisioninability to decide on a course of action
  • irrésolutioninability to decide on a course of action
German Unentschlossenheit, Unschlüssigkeit
  • Unentschlossenheitinability to decide on a course of action
  • Unschlüssigkeitinability to decide on a course of action
Greek αναποφασιστικότητα, δισταγμός
  • αναποφασιστικότητα (anapofasistikótita)inability to decide on a course of action
  • δισταγμός (distagmós)inability to decide on a course of action
Hindi अनिश्चय
  • अनिश्चय (aniścay)inability to decide on a course of action
Italian indecisione, tiremmolla
  • indecisioneinability to decide on a course of action
  • tiremmollainability to decide on a course of action
  • inconcludenzainability to decide on a course of action
Japanese 優柔不断
  • 優柔不断 (yūjūfudan)inability to decide on a course of action
Norwegian Bokmål ubesluttsomhet
  • ubesluttsomhetinability to decide on a course of action
Polish niezdecydowanie
  • niezdecydowanieinability to decide on a course of action
Portuguese indecisão
  • indecisãoinability to decide on a course of action
Russian нереши́тельность, нереши́мость
  • нереши́тельность (nerešítelʹnostʹ)inability to decide on a course of action
  • нереши́мость (nerešímostʹ)inability to decide on a course of action
Spanish indecisión
  • indecisióninability to decide on a course of action
Swedish obeslutsamhet, vankelmod
  • obeslutsamhetinability to decide on a course of action
  • vankelmodinability to decide on a course of action
  • velighetinability to decide on a course of action

Rhymes & wordplay

Rhymes with indecision

All rhymes →
Cite this entry
APA

indecision. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/indecision

MLA

“indecision.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/indecision. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “indecision,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/indecision.

Source: indecision on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.