INCONCLUSIVE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does inconclusive mean? 

• INCONCLUSIVE (adjective)
  The adjective INCONCLUSIVE has 1 sense:

1. not conclusive; not putting an end to doubt or question

  Familiarity information: INCONCLUSIVE used as an adjective is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• INCONCLUSIVE (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Not conclusive; not putting an end to doubt or question

Context example:

the inconclusive committee vote

Similar:

equivocal (uncertain as a sign or indication)

indeterminate (not leading to a definite ending or result)

head-to-head; neck and neck; nip and tuck (inconclusive as to outcome; close or just even in a race or comparison or competition)

nisi (not final or absolute)

Also:

indecisive (not definitely settling something)

indeterminate; undetermined (not precisely determined or established; not fixed or known in advance)

Attribute:

conclusiveness; decisiveness; finality (the quality of being final or definitely settled)

Antonym:

conclusive (forming an end or termination; especially putting an end to doubt or question)

Derivation:

inconclusiveness (the quality of being inconclusive)

 Context examples 

However, the results have been inconclusive.

(Omega-3s linked with lower risk of fatal heart attacks, NIH)

However, studies have been inconclusive as to whether breastfeeding lowers the risk of type 2 diabetes, particularly among women with a history of gestational diabetes.

(Breastfeeding may help prevent type 2 diabetes after gestational diabetes, NIH)

However, due to limitations in these studies – including not taking into account breastfeeding history and grouping together women who had never been pregnant with those who had been pregnant but experienced pregnancy loss – their results have been inconclusive and sometimes contradictory.

(Pregnancy losses and large numbers of children linked with increased risk of cardiovascular disease, University of Cambridge)