What does inconclusive mean?
Word: Inconclusive
Part of Speech: Adjective
Meaning: Inconclusive means not leading to a firm answer, so the question is left open.
Synonyms: unresolved
How do you spell inconclusive?
Syllables: in - con - clu - sive
Tricky part: The sound before -ive is an s, so the ending is -sive; pupils often write -cive because of the c's earlier in the word.
Watch out for: inconclucive, inconclussive
Memory tip: Before ive, this word writes its s sound with one plain s: no c and no double s sneaks in.
Inconclusive in a sentence
Example 1: The umpire said the replay was inconclusive, so the batter stayed in.
Example 2: Our survey on favourite snacks was inconclusive because only six people replied.
Example 3: Weather reports for the trek were inconclusive, so we packed both raincoats and sunhats.
Fun Fact
In Test cricket, a match that ends without either side winning after five days is called a draw, one of the best-known inconclusive results in sport.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Cookie
Find the misspelt word in the sentence:
After three days of careful measurements in the school garden, the results of our plant experiment were still inconculsive, so Ms Bose asked us to keep watering the seedlings for another week.
a) inconculsive
b) careful
c) experiment
d) measurements
Show answer
a) inconculsive. The word grows from conclude, so the l comes before the u: in-con-clu-sive.
Word Connection
Choose the antonym of the word inconclusive as used in the sentence:
The first round of talks between the two clubs was inconclusive, so a second meeting was fixed for Friday.
a) uncertain
b) open
c) unsettled
d) decisive
Show answer
d) decisive. A decisive meeting would settle the matter; uncertain, unsettled and open all describe one that does not.
Mingle-Mangle
Rearrange the jumbled letters in the sentence to form the right word:
Because the photo finish was vulcosnecini, both runners were given a gold ribbon.
a) inconspicuous
b) inconclusive
c) inconsistent
d) inclusive
Show answer
b) inconclusive. With two n's and two c's but no t or p, these twelve letters make only inconclusive.
Spell-o-Spell
Only one word in the list is correct. Choose the meaning of that word.
1. inconclusive 2. incredable 3. inaccesible 4. inconvenent
a) causing trouble or difficulty for someone
b) impossible or very hard to reach
c) leaving people still unsure of the outcome
d) too surprising to be easily believed
Show answer
c) leaving people still unsure of the outcome. Each of the other three has dropped or swapped a letter; inconclusive is the one written in full.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. The science fair judges found a team's test inconclusive. What should the team most likely do next?
a) announce the result as final
b) stop working on the project for good
c) collect the winner's trophy at once
d) repeat the test with more careful readings
Show answer
d) repeat the test with more careful readings
2. Which of these results is inconclusive?
a) a match won five goals to nil
b) a race won by a clear lead
c) a class vote that ends in a tie
d) a quiz where one team scored far more
Show answer
c) a class vote that ends in a tie
