irresolute

I1R1R1E1S1O1L1U1T1E1
/ɪˈrɛz.əˌl(j)uːt/

adjective

Undecided or unsure how to act.

Similar
infirmdiscouragedunstablevacillantvacillatingwavering
Opposite
resolute
OriginFrench irrésolu →
UncommonScrabble 10
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Meanings

adjectiveirresolute (comparative more irresolute, superlative most irresolute)

comparative more irresolute · superlative most irresolute

  1. Undecided or unsure how to act.

    As the seeress stood irresolute the tall young secretary half rose and whispered something in her ear.

    1925 July – 1926 May, A[rthur] Conan Doyle, “(please specify the chapter number)”, in The Land of Mist (eBook no. 0601351h.html), Australia: Project Gutenberg Australia, published April 2019

    Synonyms: infirm

  2. Indecisive or lacking in resolution.

Synonyms & antonyms

adjectiveUndecided or unsure how to act.

Similar
infirm
Opposite
resolute

More synonyms by meaning

adjectiveuncertain how to act or proceed

Similar
discouragedinfirmunstablevacillantvacillatingwavering
Opposite
resolute
Also see
discouragedfeeble-mindedinfirmundecidedunstablevacillantvacillatingwaveringweak-kneedwill-less

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Frenchirrésolu
  2. Englishirresolute

First attested in 1580. Borrowed from French irrésolu or composed from ir- + resolute.

More words from French

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

irresolute. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/irresolute

MLA

“irresolute.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/irresolute. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “irresolute,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/irresolute.

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