as in weak
formal
not certain about what to do; not resolute
He has been criticized as an irresolute leader.
Related Words
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Dissimilar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of irresolute
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
Sessions became unpopular within the agency for irresolute leadership, according to a 1993 New York Times article that described him as having a short attention span and being disinterested in bureaucratic details.
—Stephen Miller, Bloomberg.com, 11 June 2020
Adjective
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
Sessions became unpopular within the agency for irresolute leadership, according to a 1993 New York Times article that described him as having a short attention span and being disinterested in bureaucratic details.
—Stephen Miller, Bloomberg.com, 11 June 2020
Recent Examples of Synonyms for irresolute
Adjective
-
The economy has withstood weak role creation precisely because the pool of applicants is shrinking.—
Eleanor Pringle,
Fortune,
20 Oct. 2025
-
The defensive line took advantage of a weak Auburn O-line, sacking Arnold five times.—
Maddie Hartley,
Kansas City Star,
19 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Del Toro’s explanation for this paradox revealed to Isaac that Victor Frankenstein operates without doubt or hesitation—until his catastrophic moment of reckoning.—
Clayton Davis,
Variety,
17 Oct. 2025
-
Tariffs appear to have stabilized, and while brands remain aware of global uncertainties, there’s a clear shift toward action, not hesitation.—
Angela Velasquez,
Sourcing Journal,
13 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
His income is uncertain, and he’s been living with Bennett, a younger drinking buddy who, in turn, is basically squatting in his dead aunt’s apartment.—
Willing Davidson,
New Yorker,
19 Oct. 2025
-
While in school, the senator's son needed some of the very programs that now have an uncertain fate without people to manage them.—
Zachary Schermele,
USA Today,
19 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
His grandfather, Leroy Hanlon, frustrated by this hesitancy, snatches the instrument out of Mike’s hand and carries out the deed himself.—
Nick Romano,
Entertainment Weekly,
8 Oct. 2025
-
That hesitancy is echoed by some analysts, who said the concept currently lacked clarity.—
Freddie Clayton,
NBC news,
3 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Fashionistas have been swapping their skinny jeans for this roomier, more relaxed fit, but even the most trend-savvy shoppers are still hesitant to try the polarizing silhouette for themselves.—
Chaise Sanders,
Travel + Leisure,
17 Oct. 2025
-
The industry may have been hesitant about a rising star who operated in two languages, but her fans weren’t.—
Isabela Raygoza,
Billboard,
16 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Now, there is some reason for hesitance here, mainly because Raymond could be playing with a rotating cast on his line’s left wing this season.—
Max Bultman,
New York Times,
9 Oct. 2025
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Still, the Sons of Anarchy star has been open about his initial hesitance to take on the role.—
Julia Moore,
PEOPLE,
9 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
There have been several times that Dart has been indecisive in the pocket, which also was a trend during training camp.—
Dan Duggan,
New York Times,
9 Oct. 2025
-
Netanyahu once shunned long wars and ground operations, aware of the cost and political capital that resulted in indecisive conclusions or stalemates.—
Tal Shalev,
CNN Money,
29 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Lawrence also took another two-year pause after the release of raunchy comedy No Hard Feelings (2023) before taking on a new project, Die My Love.—
Lex Goldstein,
PEOPLE,
20 Oct. 2025
-
While earnings season has helped fill the information void, this pause in government data comes at a uniquely unfortunate time, given questions about the health of the labor market and inflationary pressures during the trade war.—
Zev Fima,Kevin Stankiewicz,
CNBC,
19 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Irresolute.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/irresolute. Accessed 21 Oct. 2025.
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