Resolute
adjective /ˈrez.ə.luːt/ — Admirably purposeful and unwavering
Definition
Firmly determined and unwavering in purpose — committed to a course of action without hesitation or retreat.
Beyond the definition
The quality of someone who has already settled the question inside themselves. Resolute people don't need to argue about whether — only about how.
Origin & history
From Latin 'resolutus', past participle of 'resolvere' (to loosen, to release) — paradoxically, being resolute involves releasing doubt. To resolve is to make clear; to be resolute is to hold that clarity.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
Her expression was resolute — she had already decided, and the meeting was a formality.
Resolute is not stubborn: stubbornness resists evidence; resoluteness has already considered it.
He was resolute without being rigid — committed to the goal, flexible about the means.
Synonyms
determined, steadfast, unwavering, purposeful, committed
Antonyms
irresolute, wavering, hesitant, indecisive
Related words
Word in the Wild
See how this word appears in life, language and stories.
Illustrative sentences and imagined stories for learning — not verified sightings, interviews, or sourced quotations.
Fictional scene
Recovery in a sunlit conservatory
An adult sits in a sunlit conservatory, recovering from an injury using a mobility aid while observing a regrowing plant.
The person’s commitment to the slow, painful process of recovery shows a resolute spirit. They are firmly determined to heal, and their steady, unwavering purpose is mirrored by the plant that continues its own steady process of renewal.
Image credit: Wordspun · AI-generated conceptual illustration