Thesaurus

restive

adjective

Synonyms and Antonyms of restive

1 given to resisting authority or another's control

the restive horse threw its head and refused to move when the rider urged it forward

Synonyms of restive

balky, contrary, contumacious, defiant, disobedient, froward, incompliant, insubordinate, intractable, obstreperous, rebel, rebellious, recalcitrant, recusant, refractory, ungovernable, unruly, untoward, wayward, willful (or wilful)

Words Related to restive

noncooperative, uncooperative

insurgent, mutinous

adamant, adamantine, dogged, hardheaded, headstrong, immovable, implacable, inflexible, mulish, negativistic, obdurate, obstinate, opinionated, peevish, pertinacious, pigheaded, rigid, self-willed, stubborn, unbending, uncompromising, unrelenting, unyielding

fractious, uncontrollable, unmanageable, wild

perverse, resistant, wrongheaded

bad, disorderly, errant, misbehaving, mischievous, monkeying, monkeyish, naughty

dissident, nonconformist

discourteous, disrespectful, ill-bred, ill-mannered, ill-natured, impertinent, impolite, impudent, inconsiderate, insolent, ornery, rude, uncivil, uncouth, ungracious, unmannerly

Near Antonyms of restive

acquiescent, agreeable, amiable, cooperative, deferential, obliging

behaved, disciplined, well-bred

courteous, polite, respectful

kowtowing, obsequious, servile, slavish, subservient

decorous, mannerly, orderly, proper

controllable, governable, manageable, trainable

Antonyms of restive

amenable, biddable, compliant, conformable, docile, obedient, ruly, submissive, tractable

2 lacking or denying rest

spent a restive night worrying about the next day's exam

Synonyms of restive

restless, uneasy, unquiet, unrestful

Words Related to restive

agitated, distressed, disturbed, perturbed, troubled, unsettled

aflutter, anxious, dithery, edgy, fidgety, het up, hung up, jittery, jumpy, nervous, nervy, tense, upset, uptight, worried

Near Antonyms of restive

calm, easy, peaceful, quiet, relaxing, tranquil

Antonyms of restive

Synonym Discussion of restive

contrary, perverse, restive, balky, wayward mean inclined to resist authority or control. contrary implies a temperamental unwillingness to accept orders or advice.

- a contrary child

perverse may imply wrongheaded, determined, or cranky opposition to what is reasonable or normal.

- a perverse, intractable critic

restive suggests unwillingness or inability to submit to discipline or follow orders.

- tired soldiers growing restive

balky suggests a refusing to proceed in a desired direction or course of action.

- a balky witness

wayward suggests strong-willed capriciousness and irregularity in behavior.

- a school for wayward youths

Learn More about restive

See words that rhyme with restive Dictionary: Definition of restive Spanish Central: Translation of restive Nglish: Translation of restive for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of restive for Arabic speakers

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