If you are restive, you are impatient, bored, or dissatisfied.
[formal]
The audience grew restive.
...restive national minorities.
Synonyms: restless, nervous, uneasy, impatient More Synonyms of restive
restivenessuncountable noun
There were signs of restiveness among the younger members.
restive in British English
(ˈrɛstɪv)
adjective
1.
restless, nervous, or uneasy
2.
impatient of control or authority
Derived forms
restively (ˈrestively)
adverb
restiveness (ˈrestiveness)
noun
Word origin
C16: from Old French restif balky, from rester to remain
restive in American English
(ˈrɛstɪv)
adjective
1.
refusing to go forward; balky, as a horse
2.
hard to control; unruly; refractory
3.
nervous or impatient under pressure or restraint; restless; unsettled
SIMILAR WORDS: ˈconˌtrary
Derived forms
restively (ˈrestively)
adverb
restiveness (ˈrestiveness)
noun
Word origin
ME restyfe < OFr restif < rester: see rest2
Examples of 'restive' in a sentence
restive
The French had grown restive under an absolute monarchy that was no longer effective but was unable to produce meaningful reforms.
Stearns, Peter N. World History: Patterns of Change and Continuity (1995)
The Tory ranks became increasingly restive.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
America and the proceeds would fund the salaries of government employees in the colonies, officials who would therefore be less accountable to the increasingly restive population.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
(adjective)
Definition
restless or uneasy
The audience grew restive.
Synonyms
restless
My father seemed very restless and excited.
nervous
I get very nervous when I'm in the house alone at night.
uneasy
He looked uneasy and refused to answer questions.
impatient
They are impatient for jobs and security.
agitated
She seemed agitated about something.
unruly
edgy
She was nervous and edgy, waiting for the phone to ring.
jittery (informal)
Investors have become jittery about the country's economy.
recalcitrant
on edge
Ever since their arrival she had felt on edge.
fractious
The children were predictably fractious.
ill at ease
He seemed ill at ease in my company.
jumpy
I told myself not to be so jumpy.
fretful
an extremely fretful four-month old baby
fidgety
I was so fidgety and nervous.
refractory
unquiet
antsy (informal)
Opposites
content,
relaxed
,
satisfied
,
calm
,
peaceful
,
at ease
,
serene
,
tranquil
Additional synonyms
in the sense of agitated
She seemed agitated about something.
Synonyms
upset,
worried,
troubled,
disturbed,
shaken,
excited,
alarmed,
nervous,
anxious,
distressed,
rattled (informal),
distracted,
uneasy,
unsettled,
worked up,
ruffled,
unnerved,
disconcerted,
disquieted,
edgy,
flustered,
perturbed,
on edge,
fazed,
ill at ease,
hot under the collar (informal),
in a flap (informal),
hot and bothered (informal),
antsy (informal),
angsty,
all of a flutter (informal),
discomposed,
flapping (informal)
in the sense of edgy
Definition
nervous, irritable, or anxious
She was nervous and edgy, waiting for the phone to ring.
Synonyms
nervous,
wired (slang),
anxious,
tense,
irritable,
touchy,
uptight (informal),
on edge,
nervy (British, informal),
ill at ease,
restive,
twitchy (informal),
irascible,
tetchy,
chippy (informal),
on tenterhooks,
keyed up,
antsy (informal),
on pins and needles,
adrenalized
in the sense of fidgety
I was so fidgety and nervous.
Synonyms
restless,
nervous,
uneasy,
impatient,
jittery (informal),
on edge,
jerky,
restive,
jumpy,
twitchy (informal),
antsy (informal)
Nearby words of
restive
restaurant
restful
restitution
restive
restless
restlessness
restoration
Synonyms of 'restive'
restive
Explore 'restive' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of fractious
Definition
(esp. of children) easily upset and angered, often due to tiredness
The children were predictably fractious.
Synonyms
irritable,
cross,
awkward,
unruly,
touchy,
recalcitrant,
petulant,
tetchy,
ratty (British, New Zealand, informal),
testy,
chippy (informal),
fretful,
grouchy (informal),
querulous,
peevish,
refractory,
crabby,
captious,
froward (archaic),
pettish
in the sense of fretful
Definition
irritable or upset
an extremely fretful four-month old baby
Synonyms
irritable,
cross,
worried,
complaining,
anxious,
unhappy,
uneasy,
edgy,
touchy,
fractious,
petulant,
out of sorts,
tetchy,
ratty (British, New Zealand, informal),
testy,
short-tempered,
querulous,
peevish,
splenetic,
crotchety (informal),
captious
in the sense of ill at ease
Definition
unable to relax
He seemed ill at ease in my company.
Synonyms
uncomfortable,
nervous,
tense,
strange,
wired (slang),
disturbed,
anxious,
awkward,
uneasy,
unsettled,
faltering,
unsure,
restless,
out of place,
self-conscious,
hesitant,
disquieted,
edgy,
on edge,
twitchy (informal),
on tenterhooks,
fidgety,
unquiet,
like a fish out of water,
antsy (informal),
unrelaxed,
on pins and needles (informal)
in the sense of impatient
Definition
restless to have or do something
They are impatient for jobs and security.
Synonyms
eager,
longing,
keen,
hot,
earnest,
raring,
anxious,
hungry,
intent,
enthusiastic,
yearning,
greedy,
restless,
ardent,
avid,
fervent,
zealous,
chafing,
vehement,
fretful,
straining at the leash,
fervid,
keen as mustard,
like a cat on hot bricks (informal),
athirst
in the sense of jittery
Definition
nervous
Investors have become jittery about the country's economy.
Synonyms
nervous,
anxious,
jumpy,
twitchy (informal),
wired (slang),
trembling,
shaky,
agitated,
quivering,
hyper (informal),
fidgety,
antsy (informal)
in the sense of jumpy
Definition
nervous or apprehensive
I told myself not to be so jumpy.
Synonyms
nervous,
anxious,
tense,
shaky,
restless,
agitated,
hyper (informal),
apprehensive,
jittery (informal),
on edge,
twitchy (informal),
fidgety,
timorous,
antsy (informal),
wired (slang)
in the sense of nervous
Definition
apprehensive or worried
I get very nervous when I'm in the house alone at night.