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Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective restive contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of restive are balky, contrary, perverse, and wayward. While all these words mean "inclined to resist authority or control," restive suggests unwillingness or inability to submit to discipline or follow orders.

tired soldiers growing restive

When would balky be a good substitute for restive?

The synonyms balky and restive are sometimes interchangeable, but balky suggests a refusing to proceed in a desired direction or course of action.

a balky witness

When can contrary be used instead of restive?

Although the words contrary and restive have much in common, contrary implies a temperamental unwillingness to accept orders or advice.

a contrary child

When is perverse a more appropriate choice than restive?

In some situations, the words perverse and restive are roughly equivalent. However, perverse may imply wrongheaded, determined, or cranky opposition to what is reasonable or normal.

a perverse, intractable critic

When could wayward be used to replace restive?

While the synonyms wayward and restive are close in meaning, wayward suggests strong-willed capriciousness and irregularity in behavior.

a school for wayward youths

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of restive The regime relies on repression—crackdowns, imprisonment, torture, executions—to maintain control of a stifled and restive population. David Remnick, New Yorker, 21 June 2025 But the increasing Muslim majority was growing restive. John Carlisle, Freep.com, 31 May 2025 Iranian experts have long urged successive U.S. administrations to provide strike pay and other forms of aid to restive workers in the Islamic Republic, with a view to improving human rights and causing regime change from within. Benjamin Weinthal, FOXNews.com, 27 May 2025 The event threatened to inflame tensions that are rife in the restive city amid nearly 600 days of war in Gaza. Wafaa Shurafa, Chicago Tribune, 26 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for restive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for restive
Adjective
  • Taking inspiration from the the Jolly Roger, this 44mm watch has both military functionality and a rebellious spirit, with a blackout dial punctuated by a luminous skull-and-crossbones emblem at 9 o’clock.
    Matthew Catellier, Forbes.com, 26 Aug. 2025
  • Related Stories The film centers on 12-year-old Janna, who embarks on a journey toward Mecca to preform Hajj with her strict grandmother Sitti and rebellious 18-year-old sister Sarah.
    Leo Barraclough, Variety, 25 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • Despite its importance, many of us still wrestle with insomnia, restless nights or mornings that leave us feeling less than refreshed.
    Daryl Austin, USA Today, 23 Aug. 2025
  • Children who have experienced traumatic stress may be restless, fidgety, or have trouble paying attention and staying organized, symptoms often confused with ADHD.
    Patricia Fersch, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • Gilroy’s version was an origin story tracing the making of a revolutionary, the education of Cassian Andor as a scruffy, reluctant malcontent who is radicalized into a rebel leader.
    Anne Thompson, IndieWire, 13 Aug. 2025
  • Originally, the many rebel groups fighting Assad’s forces included both secular and Islamic militias.
    Rami Zeedan, The Conversation, 11 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • The trio – who had never appeared together in public before – formed the defiant face of an emerging bloc of illiberal leaders determined to push back against Western rules and tilt the global balance of power in their favor.
    Nectar Gan, CNN Money, 4 Sep. 2025
  • While Massie remains defiant, the episode highlights how Trump’s threats alone can destabilize even entrenched incumbents.
    Samantha-Jo Roth, The Washington Examiner, 1 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Of all the bad-hair-day culprits, matted hair can be the most stubborn and frustrating.
    Grace McCarty, Glamour, 5 Sep. 2025
  • Spills can be blotted (never rubbed) with a dry cloth since the fabric is non-absorptive, and for more stubborn stains, dry cleaning is recommended.
    Zoë Sessums, Architectural Digest, 4 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Restive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/restive. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.

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