as in hesitation
a state or an instance of temporary inaction because of uncertainty about the right course of action
after a moment of anguished irresolution, I raised my rifle and fired at the charging animal
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Recent Examples of irresolution
The Oslo musician’s debut album is a darkly glamorous blur of trip-hop and dance pop, with copious reverb and Auto-Tune as stand-ins for yearning, uneasiness, and irresolution.
—
Kieran Press-Reynolds, Pitchfork, 22 Jan. 2026
Kieran Press-Reynolds, Pitchfork, 22 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for irresolution
Noun
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After missing his two previous attempts only seconds earlier, Dixon returned to the free-throw line without any hesitation.—
Patrick Z. McGavin,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Mar. 2026
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In an environment dictated by speed and automation, the space for hesitation, dissent, or moral restraint may be shrinking just as quickly.—
Kaif Shaikh,
Interesting Engineering,
3 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Finally, Jim said that our hesitancy to sell is due to fear that the company will figure out how to solve its AI woes.—
Jeff Marks,
CNBC,
10 Mar. 2026
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That hesitancy has never fully disappeared.—
Ken Toltz,
Denver Post,
5 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Analysts have noted Mojtaba's lack of adequate religious credentials and hesitance within the regime to oversee a dynastic succession as marks against his candidacy to be the next supreme leader.—
David Brennan,
ABC News,
8 Mar. 2026
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Her only hesitance was how much the internet has changed culture in the past decade.—
Angie Martoccio,
Rolling Stone,
19 Feb. 2026
Noun
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As the road flows into Missouri, plan a leg-stretching pause at Meramec Caverns in the leafy Ozarks.—
Zoey Goto,
Travel + Leisure,
8 Mar. 2026
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Denver’s mayor has already instituted a similar pause.—
Eric Schmidt,
Fortune,
6 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Irresolution.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/irresolution. Accessed 12 Mar. 2026.
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