What does conclusive mean?
Word: Conclusive
Part of Speech: Adjective
Meaning: Conclusive means proving something beyond doubt, so that the question is settled.
Synonyms: decisive, definite, convincing, final
Antonyms: inconclusive, doubtful, uncertain
Word origin: Comes from Latin conclusivus, from concludere, 'to shut up' or 'to close', from con- and claudere, 'to shut'.
How do you spell conclusive?
Syllables: con - clu - sive
Tricky part: The d of conclude turns into s, so the ending is -sive, not -cive or -dive.
Watch out for: conclucive, concludive, conclusiv
Memory tip: Conclude to conclusive works like explode to explosive and erode to erosive: the d turns into s before -ive.
Conclusive in a sentence
Example 1: The photo finish gave conclusive proof that Lucy had won the race by a fingertip.
Example 2: Scientists need conclusive results before they announce that a new medicine works.
Example 3: The last over was not conclusive, so the match went to a super over.
Fun Fact
Claudere, 'to shut', the root of conclude, also gives closet, enclose and claustrophobia, a fear of closed spaces.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Puzzle
Match the words with the correct options:
1. conclusive 2. lenient 3. opaque a. transparent b. tentative c. strict
a) 1-b, 2-a, 3-c
b) 1-b, 2-c, 3-a
c) 1-c, 2-b, 3-a
d) 1-c, 2-a, 3-b
Show answer
b) 1-b, 2-c, 3-a. Opposites pair up here: conclusive proof is final while tentative findings are not, a lenient teacher is not strict, and opaque glass is not transparent.
Word Tally
Each word below has one letter missing. How many of the words are missing the letter 'u'?
conclsive, abrasve, exclsive, decisve, intrsive
a) 1
b) 4
c) 3
d) 2
Show answer
c) 3. Conclusive, exclusive and intrusive each lose a u; abrasive and decisive lose an i.
Word Champ
Read the statements and choose the correct option:
1. When proof is conclusive, the question it answers is still wide open. 2. A hesitant speaker answers at once without stopping. 3. A deadline is the latest time by which work must be done.
a) only 2 is true
b) all three are true
c) only 1 and 3 are true
d) only 3 is true
Show answer
d) only 3 is true. Conclusive proof settles a question and a hesitant speaker pauses, so only the deadline statement is true.
Sound Check
In which word is 'con' pronounced differently?
a) concern
b) contain
c) concrete
d) conclusive
Show answer
c) concrete. Concrete starts with the o of hot; in conclusive, concern and contain the con is a weak 'kun'.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Which result is conclusive?
a) a match stopped early by rain
b) a draw that leaves the series level
c) a 5-0 win that settles the series
d) a game that ends with no result
Show answer
c) a 5-0 win that settles the series
2. Which noun belongs to the same family as conclusive?
a) contusion
b) conclusion
c) collusion
d) confusion
Show answer
b) conclusion
