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restive

adjective

Synonyms and Antonyms of restive

1 given to resisting authority or anotherʼs 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, restive, uncontrollable, unmanageable, wild

perverse, resistant, wrongheaded

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

undisciplined

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

yielding

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 dayʼs 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

restful

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

  1. 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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