inconclusive

adjective

Definition of inconclusivenext
as in erroneous
not showing that something is certainly true The results of the test proved inconclusive. an inconclusive argument

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of inconclusive The coroner ruled her death inconclusive and surveillance video showed him in the area but not with the woman. — Logan Smith, CBS News, 17 Aug. 2026 This can make clinical drug trials more targeted and successful, rather than inconclusive. — Emily Forlini, Fortune, 10 Aug. 2026 Fittingly, the result—a squeaker of a win for El-Sayed, who led by less than a percentage point when the race was called this morning—looks close to the Platonic ideal of an inconclusive outcome. — Jon Allsop, New Yorker, 5 Aug. 2026 Scientific Study Results are Mixed The effect of eating spicy foods every day on blood pressure remains inconclusive, as results from human studies are mixed. — Colleen Doherty, Verywell Health, 3 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for inconclusive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inconclusive
  1. erroneous
  2. inaccurate
  3. incorrect
  4. flawed
  5. misleading
  6. wrong
Adjective
  • For example, antiquarian scholars introduced the erroneous notion that druids built stone circles—most notably Stonehenge—for their ceremonies, an idea that became embedded in the popular imagination during the 18th century.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 14 Aug. 2026
  • The erroneous reports prompted Katsina United to release another statement confirming Ozor’s death.
    — Adam England, PEOPLE, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of erroneous
Adjective
  • During more than 2,600 test interactions, researchers found inaccurate answers, weak sources, and serious safety failures.
    — Dan Fitzpatrick, Forbes.com, 23 Aug. 2026
  • That is inaccurate, not what the investigation covers, and viral posts on X are misleading people either through incompetence or purposefully misleading information.
    — Ian Miller OutKick, FOXNews.com, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of inaccurate
Adjective
  • When requirements are unclear, AI may make incorrect assumptions that compound over multiple iterations.
    — Son Nguyen, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026
  • The senators also noted that grants were canceled out of the blue with form letters, which had contradictory explanations and incorrect citations.
    — Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of incorrect
Adjective
  • But many professional-class socialists are no doubt making an earnest moral judgment, born of firsthand experience, that contemporary capitalism is deeply flawed.
    — Tyler Austin Harper, The Atlantic, 22 Aug. 2026
  • Such biometric age checks have proved controversial, unpopular with users, and alarming to privacy advocates, who see even the latest age verification tools as flawed.
    — Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of flawed
Adjective
  • That’s misleading, the FTC said, since customers who know how prices are set could take defensive measures, such as using a private browsing session or a virtual private network to mask their browsing history.
    — Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 21 Aug. 2026
  • There are plenty of well-meaning people and experts posting content everyday, but both professors noted that even that material may be misleading, inconclusive or overly generalized.
    — Carlos De Loera, Los Angeles Times, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of misleading
Adjective
  • There’s nothing wrong with holding on to childhood and being a little immature from time to time.
    — Loren Savini, Allure, 22 Aug. 2026
  • Cleveland Police said a Volkswagen Passat carrying five members of the public was traveling the wrong way down the A66 highway near Middlesbrough and collided with a police vehicle on the same road going in the right direction.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 22 Aug. 2026
Definition of wrong

Browse Nearby Words

in concert
inconclusive
inconclusiveness
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Inconclusive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inconclusive. Accessed 25 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of tilde

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

How to Pronounce the Trickiest Menu Items

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Words of the Week - Aug. 21

16 Glee-ridden Words from Schitt's Creek
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
alt-684346df967d5
Add A Letter Quiz Pick the letter that goes in the same spot in fou...
See All