unresolved
Not yet settled
Unresolved describes something that remains unsettled or without conclusion.
An unresolved conflict continues to simmer; an unresolved question still lacks an answer.
The word often carries tension—unresolved issues tend to linger and cause trouble: There's still some unresolved business between them.
In music, an unresolved chord creates suspense by not returning to the tonic.
Awaiting resolution or decision
- ongoingIn progress now
- incompleteLacking necessary parts
- unfinishedNot yet complete
- open-endedLacking fixed boundaries
unanswered · outstanding · undecided · dangling · suspended · deferred · stalled · lingering
Experiencing distress or anxiety
- anxiousTroubled by uncertainty
- restlessUnable to be still
- conflictedEmotionally at odds
- unsettledNot yet resolved
uneasy · tormented · haunted · burdened · nagging · gnawing · festering · suppressed
Not yet figured out
- unexplainedNot yet clarified
- mysteriousBeyond easy comprehension
- enigmaticPuzzling and obscure
- bafflingImpossible to understand
perplexing · whodunit · unknown · unanswered · cryptic · puzzling · inexplicable · investigation
Not having chosen
- hesitantSlow to act
- waveringShowing unsteady resolve
- tornPulled into pieces
- ambivalentHaving contradictory feelings
vacillating · uncertain · uncommitted · wishy-washy · noncommittal · dithering · waffling · conflicted
pending
Awaiting resolution or decision
- ongoingIn progress now
- incompleteLacking necessary parts
- unfinishedNot yet complete
open-ended · unanswered · outstanding · undecided · dangling · suspended · deferred · stalled · lingering · hanging
troubled
Experiencing distress or anxiety
- anxiousTroubled by uncertainty
- restlessUnable to be still
- conflictedEmotionally at odds
unsettled · uneasy · tormented · haunted · burdened · nagging · gnawing · festering · suppressed · unprocessed
unsolved
Not yet figured out
- unexplainedNot yet clarified
- mysteriousBeyond easy comprehension
- enigmaticPuzzling and obscure
baffling · perplexing · whodunit · unknown · unanswered · cryptic · puzzling · inexplicable · investigation · detective
undecided
Not having chosen
ambivalent · vacillating · uncertain · uncommitted · wishy-washy · noncommittal · dithering · waffling · conflicted · unsure
vague
Unclear, ill-defined
nebulous · indistinct · opaque · imprecise · cryptic · obscure · murky · hazy · indefinite · uncertain
dispute
Verbal clash over differences
- tensionStretched or strained state
- frictionResistance between touching surfaces
- discordLack of agreement
disagreement · strife · contention · hostility · animosity · standoff · deadlock · impasse · stalemate · feud
- incompleteincomplete, unfinished, partial, fragmentary, half-done
- indecisionindecision, indecisiveness, conflicted, hesitation, indecisive
- statusespending, active, approved, inactive, completed
- uncertaintyuncertainty, uncertain, unknown, unsure, unclear
- problem adjectivesserious, severe, major, minor, critical
- Unknown Statusmissing, pending, undetermined, unconfirmed, unverified
unresolvedresolved
Firmly decided upon
decided · settled · determined · concluded · finalized
unresolvedsolved
Found the answer to
resolved · answered · figured out · worked out · cracked
unresolvedresolved
Firmly decided upon
reconciled · settled · harmonious · healed · at peace
- unresolved issues
- unresolved conflictDispute lacking conclusion