1
as in rebellious
given to resisting authority or another's control
the restive horse threw its head and refused to move when the rider urged it forward
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in restless
lacking or denying rest
spent a restive night worrying about the next day's exam
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of restive
Conflict monitors, now watching with alarm as Islamist militants capture territory and stage attacks in Mali, urge the administration to pay closer attention to the restive Sahel region and other hot spots.
—
Hannah Allam, ProPublica, 14 May 2026
The next national election does not have to be held until 2029, but a wipeout on Thursday could tip a restive Labour Party into revolt against its unpopular leader.
—ABC News, 5 May 2026
By 1730hrs, the crowd grew restive.
—James Reginato, Vanity Fair, 28 Apr. 2026
Starmer will face restive lawmakers in Parliament on Monday to fight for his job after the explosive revelation that Mandelson was appointed ambassador to the United States despite failing security checks.
—Jill Lawless, Los Angeles Times, 19 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for restive
Hannah Allam, ProPublica, 14 May 2026
The next national election does not have to be held until 2029, but a wipeout on Thursday could tip a restive Labour Party into revolt against its unpopular leader.
—ABC News, 5 May 2026
By 1730hrs, the crowd grew restive.
—James Reginato, Vanity Fair, 28 Apr. 2026
Starmer will face restive lawmakers in Parliament on Monday to fight for his job after the explosive revelation that Mandelson was appointed ambassador to the United States despite failing security checks.
—Jill Lawless, Los Angeles Times, 19 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for restive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for restive
Adjective
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To promote the new launch, the duo teamed up on a campaign captured on the streets of Paris by photographer Daniel Roché, with the aim of creating a series of images that reflects the fusion of youth culture and a cool, rebellious edge, Asics said.—
Stephen Garner,
Footwear News,
20 June 2026
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The last of the rebellious slaveholding states was finally under federal control.—
New York Daily News Editorial Board,
New York Daily News,
19 June 2026
Adjective
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Local legends speak of restless spirits, mysterious voices, and supernatural activity, although many claims are impossible to verify.—
Kaif Shaikh,
Interesting Engineering,
15 June 2026
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James Boyard, a Haitian police officer and security expert, was abducted Thursday morning in Raimbol in the Bourdon neighborhood as the family traveled through the capital to see a doctor after a restless night caring for their sick daughter.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
14 June 2026
Adjective
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Starmer had previously vowed to stand in any formal Labour leadership race triggered by rebel lawmakers who feating a 2029 election wipeout sought to replace him.—
Kim Hjelmgaard,
USA Today,
22 June 2026
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Many rebel groups are offshoots of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, which had been fighting to overthrow the government since the 1960s and had been the country's largest guerrilla organization.—
John Otis,
NPR,
21 June 2026
Adjective
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As for his own future, Lapid remains defiant, even as sources of financing and festival platforms risk becoming scarcer.—
Elsa Keslassy,
Variety,
18 June 2026
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This is a book about hope — the stubborn, defiant belief that even after life breaks us open, light can still pour through the cracks.—
Carly Tagen-Dye,
PEOPLE,
15 June 2026
Adjective
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But La Roja could not find a way past Vozinha and a stubborn defense that had an answer to everything Spain’s superstars threw at them.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
16 June 2026
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Meanwhile, Hanks invests the vulnerable but stubborn Woody with a delectable senior resilience.—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
16 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Restive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/restive. Accessed 23 Jun. 2026.
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