[syn: indecisiveness, indecision]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Indecision \In`de*ci"sion\, n. [Pref. in- not + decision: cf. F.
ind['e]cision.]
Lack of decision; lack of settled purpose, or of firmness;
indetermination; wavering of mind; irresolution; vacillation;
hesitation.
[1913 Webster]
The term indecision . . . implies an idea very nicely
different from irresolution; yet it has a tendency to
produce it. --Shenstone.
[1913 Webster]
Indecision . . . is the natural accomplice of violence.
--Burke.
[1913 Webster]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
indecision
n 1: doubt concerning two or more possible alternatives or
courses of action; "his indecision was only momentary but
the opportunity was lost" [syn: indecision,
indecisiveness, irresolution]
2: the trait of irresolution; a lack of firmness of character or
purpose; "the king's incurable indecisiveness caused turmoil
in his court" [syn: indecisiveness, indecision] [ant:
decision, decisiveness]
Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0:
57 Moby Thesaurus words for "indecision":
ambitendency, ambivalence, capriciousness, chance, chanciness,
change of mind, changeableness, double-mindedness, dubiety,
dubiousness, erraticism, erraticness, fence-sitting,
fence-straddling, fickleness, fluctuation, hesitancy, hesitation,
incalculability, incertitude, inconstancy, indecisiveness,
indemonstrability, indeterminacy, indetermination, indeterminism,
infirmity of purpose, instability, irresolution, luck,
mercuriality, mugwumpery, mugwumpism, randomness, second thoughts,
shilly-shally, shilly-shallying, suspense, suspensefulness,
tergiversation, to-and-fro, unaccountability, uncertainness,
uncertainty, uncertainty principle, undecidedness,
undeterminedness, unforeseeableness, unpredictability,
unprovability, unsettledness, unsettlement, unsureness,
unverifiability, vacillation, wavering, whimsicality
The Devil's Dictionary (1881-1906):
INDECISION, n. The chief element of success; "for whereas," saith Sir
Thomas Brewbold, "there is but one way to do nothing and divers way to
do something, whereof, to a surety, only one is the right way, it
followeth that he who from indecision standeth still hath not so many
chances of going astray as he who pusheth forwards" -- a most clear
and satisfactory exposition on the matter.
"Your prompt decision to attack," said Genera Grant on a certain
occasion to General Gordon Granger, "was admirable; you had but five
minutes to make up your mind in."
"Yes, sir," answered the victorious subordinate, "it is a great
thing to be know exactly what to do in an emergency. When in doubt
whether to attack or retreat I never hesitate a moment -- I toss us a
copper."
"Do you mean to say that's what you did this time?"
"Yes, General; but for Heaven's sake don't reprimand me: I
disobeyed the coin."