If you say that someone is indecisive, you mean that they find it very difficult to make decisions.
Michael was indecisive about how to decorate the room.
He was criticised as a weak and indecisive leader.
Synonyms: hesitating, uncertain, wavering, doubtful More Synonyms of indecisive
indecisivenessuncountable noun [oft with poss]
The mayor was criticized by radical reformers for his indecisiveness.
2. adjective
An indecisive result in a contest or election is one which is not clear or definite.
An indecisive result would force a second round of voting.
The outcome of the battle was indecisive.
Synonyms: inconclusive, unclear, undecided, indefinite More Synonyms of indecisive
indecisive in British English
(ˌɪndɪˈsaɪsɪv)
adjective
1.
(of a person) vacillating; irresolute
2.
not decisive or conclusive
Derived forms
indecision (ˌindeˈcision) or indecisiveness (ˌindeˈcisiveness)
noun
indecisively (ˌindeˈcisively)
adverb
indecisive in American English
(ˌɪndiˈsaɪsɪv; ˌɪndɪˈsaɪsɪv)
adjective
1.
not decisive; not conclusive or final
2.
characterized by indecision; hesitating or vacillating
Derived forms
indecisively (ˌindeˈcisively)
adverb
indecisiveness (ˌindeˈcisiveness)
noun
Examples of 'indecisive' in a sentence
indecisive
Has a tendency to stand off opponents and can look raw and indecisive.
The Sun (2016)
They want elections to be indecisive so they can make backroom deals for power.
The Sun (2011)
Iam not usually an indecisive person who sees both sides of a question.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
The problems you talk of are mostly the result of indecisive handling.
The Sun (2007)
At a time of crisis its top managers have been exposed as weak and indecisive.
The Sun (2008)
She has looked weak and indecisive, sinking not swimming in the deadly currents of her job.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Certainly, it looks indecisive on a matter that plainly requires firm but sensitive action.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Two indecisive general elections left Britain rudderless.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
An indecisive vote resulted in a six-week lesson in church politics.
Christianity Today (2000)
This hung situation usually means a weak, indecisive and ineffective coalition.
The Sun (2010)
Nonetheless, his enemies depict him as weak and indecisive.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
If he backs down now, he will add weak and indecisive to naive and helpless.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Fortune favours the bold - not the weak and indecisive.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
A confidence player who can look indecisive on an off day.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
He looks opportunistic and indecisive.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
No wonder the Third Republic was weak and indecisive.
Peregrine Worsthorne IN DEFENCE OF ARISTOCRACY (2004)
I am an indecisive person.
Bee, Helen The Developing Child (7th edn.) (1995)
But there have also been times when they've looked alarmingly indecisive, as if the pressure is already beginning to get to them.
The Sun (2015)
It said the document must to'fully and unambiguously reflect the scope of uncertainty' over who is understood to be in charge after an indecisive outcome.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
In other languages
indecisive
British English: indecisive /ˌɪndɪˈsaɪsɪv/ ADJECTIVE
If you are indecisive, you find it difficult to make decisions.
He was criticized as a weak and indecisive leader.
American English: indecisive
Arabic: غَيْرُ حَاسِمٌ
Brazilian Portuguese: indeciso
Chinese: 非决定性的
Croatian: neodlučan
Czech: nerozhodný
Danish: ubeslutsom
Dutch: besluiteloos
European Spanish: indeciso ser
Finnish: epäröivä
French: indécis
German: unentschlossen
Greek: αναποφάσιστος
Italian: indeciso
Japanese: 優柔不断な
Korean: 결단성이 없는
Norwegian: ubestemt
Polish: niezdecydowany
European Portuguese: indeciso
Romanian: indecis
Russian: нерешительный
Latin American Spanish: indeciso
Swedish: obeslutsam
Thai: ลังเล
Turkish: kararsız
Ukrainian: нерішучий
Vietnamese: không dứt khoát
1 (adjective)
Definition
unable to make decisions
He was criticised as a weak and indecisive leader.
Synonyms
hesitating
uncertain
He stopped, uncertain how to put the question tactfully.
wavering
doubtful
Why did he sound so doubtful?
faltering
He spoke in faltering English.
tentative
My first attempts at complaining were very tentative.
undecided
She was still undecided as to what career she wanted to pursue.
dithering mainly British)
vacillating
He has proved weak, indecisive and vacillating.
in two minds (informal)
undetermined
pussyfooting (informal)
irresolute
They launched the attack for fear of seeming irresolute.
Opposites
decisive
,
positive
,
resolute
,
certain
,
determined
,
unhesitating
2 (adjective)
Definition
not decisive or conclusive
An indecisive vote would force a second round of voting.
Synonyms
inconclusive
Research has so far proved inconclusive.
unclear
It is unclear how much popular support they have.
undecided
The release date for his record is still undecided.