1
as in uneasy
lacking or denying rest
the worried mother spent a restless night, tossing and turning in bed for hours
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in anxious
marked by or causing agitation or uncomfortable feelings
the figure skater was visibly restless as she waited for her scores to be posted
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of restless
This shift doesn't just equate to a restless night.
—
Julian Hayes Ii, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
Eclipses always come in pairs, and this week is like that quiet but restless pause between acts.
—Dossé-Via Trenou, Refinery29, 14 Sep. 2025
Still restless, the duo set off to hitchhike across the world.
—Preston Fore, Fortune, 12 Sep. 2025
America is too porous, too open, too restless for permanent darkness.
—John Hope Bryant, Time, 6 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for restless
Julian Hayes Ii, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
Eclipses always come in pairs, and this week is like that quiet but restless pause between acts.
—Dossé-Via Trenou, Refinery29, 14 Sep. 2025
Still restless, the duo set off to hitchhike across the world.
—Preston Fore, Fortune, 12 Sep. 2025
America is too porous, too open, too restless for permanent darkness.
—John Hope Bryant, Time, 6 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for restless
Recent Examples of Synonyms for restless
Adjective
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Still, when her mom asks if Paul and his kids can come on the birthday trip, the woman feels uneasy.—
Ashley Vega,
PEOPLE,
1 Oct. 2025
-
The loss of data arrived during an uneasy period for policymakers.—
Max Zahn,
ABC News,
1 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Arizonan's are growing anxious as a deal for the federal government shutdown extends into its fourth day.—
Arizona Republic,
AZCentral.com,
5 Oct. 2025
-
Amazon’s October Prime Day is days away, but for anxious shoppers who want to get a head start on saving, there are already plenty of deals to score.—
Shalwah Evans,
PEOPLE,
5 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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His talent for expressing a volatile vulnerability and grit saw him through performances as troubled tough guys in Where the Crawdads Sing and The Iron Claw.—
Liam Hess,
Vogue,
2 Oct. 2025
-
Maigret must outwit some of Paris’s most cunning and violent criminals, while dealing with his own troubled past.—
Jessica Radloff,
Glamour,
1 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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The private messages offer a disturbing glimpse into how Jones — who is looking to oust incumbent Republican Attorney General Jason Miyares this fall — describes his political adversaries in private conversations.—
Amy DeLaura,
The Washington Examiner,
5 Oct. 2025
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There were masks and body suits made of female skin, along with human skulls for soup bowls and other disturbing oddities.—
Christopher Rudolph,
PEOPLE,
4 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Although some policy decisions, such as those around trade, remain unsettled, Gallucci noted there is now a bit more clarity regarding some major economic drivers.—
Sheryl Estrada,
Fortune,
1 Oct. 2025
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And now Jackson, who has looked unsettled and edgy in recent weeks, is dealing with a hamstring injury that could sideline him for a game or two.—
Jeff Zrebiec,
New York Times,
1 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Just as demented and tense, but drunk on the confidence of youth and the arrogance to believe that talent and charm is enough.—
Zack Sharf,
Variety,
7 Oct. 2025
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California’s 'sanctuary' policies, which limit cooperation between local authorities and federal immigration agencies, further complicate enforcement efforts, creating a tense and often publicized standoff between federal officers and local communities.—
Billal Rahman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
7 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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The standoff is a political test for Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer, who has drawn scorn from a restive base of left-flank voters pushing the party to hold firm in its demands for health care funding.—
Mary Clare Jalonick,
Fortune,
1 Oct. 2025
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His advice may further embolden Britain’s restive hard-right opposition.—
Christian Edwards,
CNN Money,
18 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Now, Darvish will get to pitch in front of a stadium of screaming, hopeful, nervous Cubs fans.—
Jon Greenberg,
New York Times,
2 Oct. 2025
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If presidents are stars on the stage of world history, vice presidents are nervous understudies hidden away behind the scenes.—
Book Marks
October 2,
Literary Hub,
2 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Restless.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/restless. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.
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