Word: irresolute (adjective)

Associations

"Irresolute" means not able to make a decision or unsure about what to do. It describes a person or their behavior when they hesitate or feel uncertain.

• She was irresolute about which job offer to accept. Here, it shows she couldn't decide.
• The irresolute leader delayed making important choices. This means the leader hesitated.
• When faced with a difficult question, he became irresolute and confused. This shows uncertainty in thinking.

A similar word is "indecisive." The difference is "indecisive" often means a general habit of not deciding, while "irresolute" can describe a specific moment or feeling of doubt.

Substitution

You can use:

• hesitant (focuses on pausing before deciding)
• uncertain (focuses on not being sure)
• wavering (shows moving back and forth in choice) Each word changes the feeling a little: "hesitant" is about pause, "uncertain" about lack of surety, "wavering" about changing mind.

Deconstruction

The word "irresolute" comes from:

• prefix "ir-" meaning "not"
• root "resolute" meaning "determined" or "decided" So, "irresolute" literally means "not determined."

Inquiry

• Can you think of a time when you felt irresolute about a choice?
• How do you feel when someone is irresolute in a group decision?
• What can help a person move from being irresolute to confident?