Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun Loss or impairment of the ability to make decisions or act independently.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun A form of mental derangement in which volition is impaired or lost. Also written aboulia.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun an abnormally intense inability to make decisions; severe irresolution.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun a loss of will power

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[New Latin, from Greek abouliā, indecision : a-, without; see a– + boulē, will; see gwelə- in Indo-European roots.]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From New Latin, from Ancient Greek ἀβουλία ("irresolution"), from ἀ- (a-, "without") + βουλή (boulē, "will").

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Examples

  • Domoman: Ribczynski, On your statement about "abulia": I do not find it a problem for dualism that ... nullasalus: ribczynski, "You misquoted me as saying that science had 'proved' that the YEC God does not ... gpuccio: ribczynski: I will wait for your complete answer, and then comment on all.

    Uncommon Descent 2008

  • To All: Sorry about being slow with this, but I went from the SHOT Show to the SCI convention, and then had an attack of abulia when I got home.

    Video: Stuff Petzal Likes at the SHOT Show 2010

  • To Beekeeper: I also have a PhD in quantum physics and am working on a cure for abulia, for which I expect a Nobel Prize.

    Video Blog: Barrel Cooling Done Right 2009

  • Unlike Holden, though, Dwight, who suffers from abulia, a disease characterized by a lack of will or initiative, is too sweetly vague to engage in a critique of the "phony" world around him.

    The Won't-Grow-Up Modern Male Kay S. Hymowitz 2011

  • To Beekeeper: I also have a PhD in quantum physics and am working on a cure for abulia, for which I expect a Nobel Prize.

    Video Blog: Barrel Cooling Done Right 2009

  • To All: Sorry about being slow with this, but I went from the SHOT Show to the SCI convention, and then had an attack of abulia when I got home.

    Video: Stuff Petzal Likes at the SHOT Show 2010

  • Please don't let a slight attack of abulia interfere with your next post, article, or hunt that you will write of, and we can dream of.

    Video: Stuff Petzal Likes at the SHOT Show 2010

  • I'm told a stiff drink of Ezra Brooks and a good kick in gluteus maximus will cure abulia with only one or two applications.

    Video: Stuff Petzal Likes at the SHOT Show 2010

  • I'm told a stiff drink of Ezra Brooks and a good kick in gluteus maximus will cure abulia with only one or two applications.

    Video: Stuff Petzal Likes at the SHOT Show 2010

  • Please don't let a slight attack of abulia interfere with your next post, article, or hunt that you will write of, and we can dream of.

    Video: Stuff Petzal Likes at the SHOT Show 2010

Comments

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  • a symptom of mental disorder involving impairment or loss of volition.

    January 4, 2007

  • See also gynoaromabulia, the inability to choose a favorite Spice Girl.

    November 3, 2008

  • The waitress will bring the bill hither

    And cause our composure to wither.

    Not feeble abulia

    But crude dyscalculia

    Will force us to helplessly dither.

    July 30, 2015