irresolute

adjective

ir·​res·​o·​lute i-ˈre-zə-ˌlüt 

ˌi(r)-,

-lət

: uncertain how to act or proceed : vacillating

irresolute legislators

irresolutely

i-ˈre-zə-ˌlüt-lē 

-lət-;

-ˌre-zə-ˈlüt-

adverb

irresoluteness

i-ˈre-zə-ˌlüt-nəs 

-lət-;

-ˌre-zə-ˈlüt-

noun

irresolution

i-ˌre-zə-ˈlü-shən 

ˌi(r)-

noun

Examples of irresolute in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Downtown, in his studio at the corner of White and Cortlandt Alley, on a Thursday evening in late July, Wyeth sat on his stool and considered the irresolute underpainting on his canvas. —Literary Hub, 14 Oct. 2025

The situation is impossible, irresolute— the B.J. Vineses and priests of the world shouldn’t get to walk away scot free. —Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 14 Apr. 2025

The prevailing sense among investors and market handicappers entering the month was to expect choppy, irresolute action full of potential scares. —Michael Santoli, CNBC, 12 Oct. 2024

Showing signs of being irresolute can signal weakness that adversaries take note of. —Michael Poznansky, Foreign Affairs, 5 Jan. 2024

In some states, the confusion felt by providers and patients is compounded by ambiguous, irresolute language in the new and forthcoming laws themselves. —Jessica Winter, The New Yorker, 2 July 2022

Vernon’s sea power duly secured the Panamanian export hub of Porto Bello (which would give its name to London’s Portobello Road), but the irresolute Wentworth was ignominiously defeated in his halfhearted attempts to capture Cartagena (in modern-day Colombia) and Santiago, Cuba. —Washington Post, 10 Nov. 2021

Word History

First Known Use

1579, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for irresolute

• reconstitute
• absolute
• arrowroot
• attribute
• bitterroot
• constitute
• convolute
• destitute
• disrepute
• dissolute
• execute
• institute

Kids Definition

irresolute

adjective

ir·​res·​o·​lute (ˈ)ir-ˈ(r)ez-ə-ˌlüt 

-lət

: not resolute : hesitant

irresolutely adverb

irresoluteness noun

irresolution

(ˌ)ir-ˌ(r)ez-ə-ˈlü-shən 

noun