Meaning & use
indecisive end
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Meaning
nouncountablesport
A finish to a game, contest, or story in which no clear result or decision is reached.
Grammar: Countable: an indecisive end, the indecisive end of the match. Often used with 'to': an indecisive end to the season.
Patterns
- an indecisive end to something
- come to an indecisive end
The championship came to an indecisive end after the final was stopped by rain.
Critics complained that the novel had an indecisive end, leaving too many questions open.
Word forms
| plural | indecisive ends |
|---|
Common combinations
- an indecisive end to the match
- The indecisive end to the match frustrated both teams.
- come to an indecisive end
- The negotiations came to an indecisive end late on Friday.
- a somewhat indecisive end
- The film has a somewhat indecisive end.
Synonyms and how they differ
- inconclusive ending
- More common in general writing; 'indecisive end' is more often used in sports reporting.
- draw
- A draw is a specific tied result in a game; an indecisive end is any finish without a clear result.
Opposites
Word family
- indecisive adjective
- Unable to make decisions, or not producing a clear result.
- indecisively adverb
- In a way that shows no clear decision or result.
- indecision noun
- The state of being unable to decide.
Commonly confused: indecisive end or indefinite end?
indecisive end vs indefinite end
'Indefinite' means without a fixed limit in time; 'indecisive' means without a clear result or decision.
Practice
The final match ended without a winner. Which phrase best describes this?
Choose one answer.
'Indecisive end' means a finish with no clear result. 'Indefinite' refers to time limits, 'indecent' means offensive, and 'independent' means not controlled by others.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “indecisive end”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.