English Reference
Adjective

indecisive

adj.
B2 Upper Intermediate US /ˌɪndɪˈsaɪsɪv/ UK /ˌɪndɪsˈaɪsɪv/ in·de·ci·sive

adj.unable to make a decision because you are unsure or worried about what to choose. You might feel this way when you have too many options and cannot pick one.

adj.characterised by an inability to make a decision or reach a conclusion. Often used to describe a person's personality or a specific choice-making process.


SIMPLE

He is very indecisive when it comes to choosing a meal.

CONTEXTUAL

The committee was indecisive for weeks, unable to agree on a final budget despite having all the necessary data.

COMPLEX

An indecisive leader can paralyse a team, as constant hesitation to commit to a strategy prevents any meaningful progress from being made.

Friend plays Patrick, slightly younger than Horgan’s Alex, a little indecisive and shambling.

The Guardian· 4 Sept 2026

From in- + decisive.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Occasional
Updated