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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of restive
In the summer of 1884, the Knights of Labor began organizing restive Union Pacific workers, encouraging them to walk off the job.
—
Michael Luo, The New Yorker, 3 Mar. 2025
To further calm the restive passenger, Virgin Atlantic had Emmy-award winning actor Alan Cumming lends his legendary voice to a bedtime story.
—Michael Goldstein, Forbes.com, 2 Apr. 2025
But Huntington was trying to account for the third-world basket cases of his time—poor countries whose restive masses kept their governments constantly off-balance.
—Moisés Naím, The Atlantic, 25 Mar. 2025
At the time, Moscow and Washington jockeyed for influence in a swathe of restive African lands, including Mozambique, Angola, Namibia and ultimately South Africa.
—Alan Cowell, New York Times, 24 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for restive
Michael Luo, The New Yorker, 3 Mar. 2025
To further calm the restive passenger, Virgin Atlantic had Emmy-award winning actor Alan Cumming lends his legendary voice to a bedtime story.
—Michael Goldstein, Forbes.com, 2 Apr. 2025
But Huntington was trying to account for the third-world basket cases of his time—poor countries whose restive masses kept their governments constantly off-balance.
—Moisés Naím, The Atlantic, 25 Mar. 2025
At the time, Moscow and Washington jockeyed for influence in a swathe of restive African lands, including Mozambique, Angola, Namibia and ultimately South Africa.
—Alan Cowell, New York Times, 24 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for restive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for restive
Adjective
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Still, Adams failed to outright ask the most important questions: Were Canadians ever willing to join the rebellious Thirteen Colonies?—
Eli Wizevich,
Smithsonian Magazine,
12 May 2025
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Libra: Marge Simpson from The Simpsons Only a Libra mother could calmly and miraculously put up with the shenanigans that her three rebellious children cause.—
Lisa Stardust,
People.com,
11 May 2025
Adjective
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As alcohol metabolizes, typically over four to five hours, your brain experiences a rebound effect, leading to fragmented, restless sleep in the latter half of the night.—
Dr. Samanta Dall’Agnese,
CNBC,
13 May 2025
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My protagonist drinks to dull the sharp edges of motherhood, to quiet the restless ache of unmet expectations, and to grasp at the fleeting illusion of control in a life that often feels anything but.—
Jessica Guerrieri,
People.com,
9 May 2025
Adjective
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The president's remarks note a stark difference in recent comments he's made toward the rebel group.—
Anna Commander,
MSNBC Newsweek,
7 May 2025
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This week, rebel assassin Cinta Kaz (Varada Sethu) was accidentally shot by a Ghorman revolutionary during a routine attack on an Imperial transport ship.—
Jordan Moreau,
Variety,
1 May 2025
Adjective
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The defiant message comes after weeks of intense news coverage and a Republican House committee investigation into Hope Florida and its nonprofit charity arm, the Hope Florida Foundation.—
Lawrence Mower,
Miami Herald,
14 May 2025
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For weeks, Chinese officials had projected a defiant position, demanding the US remove all tariffs on China before agreeing to come to the negotiation table.—
Nectar Gan,
CNN Money,
12 May 2025
Adjective
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Get The Recipe Smart Move Similar recipes with beans and peas existed before then, but a challenge made to a stubborn chef named Helen Corbitt spurred the creation of Texas caviar.—
Libby Monteith Minor,
Southern Living,
17 May 2025
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When tragedy strikes on Michigan roads—when a car skids off an icy bend or a semi-truck barrels through a red light—victims are often left to face not only devastating injuries but also a daunting legal maze of corporate denials and stubborn insurers.—
William Jones,
USA Today,
17 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Restive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/restive. Accessed 22 May. 2025.
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