inconclusive
adj.not leading to a clear result or decision. You use this when a test or a search does not give you a final answer.
adj.failing to provide a definitive result or lead to a firm conclusion. Often describes evidence, research findings, or the outcome of a competition.
“The medical test results were inconclusive, so I need more exams.”
“Despite a week of intense investigation, the evidence remains inconclusive regarding the cause of the fire.”
“The initial study proved inconclusive, prompting the research team to redesign their methodology to account for previously overlooked environmental variables.”
Often follows linking verbs such as 'be', 'remain', or 'prove'.
“My psychiatrist explained that the potential risks associated with the drug were relatively small, and that the evidence linking it to harm was inconclusive.”
“At best, the evidence is mixed and inconclusive .”
From in- + conclusive.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.