1
as in turmoil
a disturbed or uneasy state
the nighttime tornado warnings were the likely source of the restiveness that could be felt all over town
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in unease
a state of nervousness marked by sudden jerky movements
I sensed that his restiveness at breakfast probably had something to do with the big presentation he would be making at the sales conference
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 restiveness
Even from the start, flickers of restiveness appear.
—
Sophie Monks Kaufman, IndieWire, 20 May 2026
Now as then, insecurity at Nigerian schools in the north is occurring in the context of a broad rash of violence across the country, from farmer-herder conflicts in the east and central regions, armed banditry attacks in the northwest, and youth restiveness in the south.
—Alexander Onukwue, semafor.com, 24 Nov. 2025
Sophie Monks Kaufman, IndieWire, 20 May 2026
Now as then, insecurity at Nigerian schools in the north is occurring in the context of a broad rash of violence across the country, from farmer-herder conflicts in the east and central regions, armed banditry attacks in the northwest, and youth restiveness in the south.
—Alexander Onukwue, semafor.com, 24 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for restiveness
Noun
-
Throw in Mateta’s desire to leave for Milan, a move which collapsed in the last few days of the winter window, and a sense of turmoil was prevalent.—
Matt Woosnam,
New York Times,
28 May 2026
-
Instead, the judge found that the state essentially fictionalized a story of chaos and turmoil in the workplace as a result of the post.—
Scott Maxwell,
Sun Sentinel,
28 May 2026
Noun
-
The constant movement might make some audience members dizzy, yet its jitteriness signifies the anxiety and unease of the characters, both in their skin and with each other.—
Murtada Elfadl,
Variety,
25 May 2026
-
All that party infighting — present before every primary, but at a fever pitch now — comes against a backdrop of broader voter unease about the war in Iran, volatile oil and gas prices, and the burgeoning threat of AI to the American workforce.—
Kevin Rector,
Los Angeles Times,
24 May 2026
Noun
-
Madonna has made music through various calamities that at the time felt world-ending — wars, political unrest, financial collapse — so the terrors of 2026 don’t seem to faze her.—
Scottie Andrew,
CNN Money,
2 June 2026
-
But its popularity didn’t spread beyond the northern Spanish city until the domestic unrest that had blighted the Basque region dissipated in the 2010s.—
Jeronimo Gonzalez,
semafor.com,
1 June 2026
Noun
-
Schizophrenia, bipolar, autism, anxiety, depression – all of these topics are almost global bestsellers.—
Jon LaPook,
CBS News,
31 May 2026
-
While menopause is biological, many of the symptoms associated with it, including sleep disruption, anxiety, mood instability, brain fog, and fatigue, can also be amplified by chronic stress and nervous system overload.—
Meggen Harris,
Forbes.com,
31 May 2026
Noun
-
While there were some concerns about Clark’s availability leading into last week’s Fever-Valkyries game, those worries proved short-lived.—
Chantz Martin,
FOXNews.com,
28 May 2026
-
There was a worry that Anunoby would once again miss a significant amount of time in the playoffs due to injury.—
James L. Edwards III,
New York Times,
28 May 2026
Noun
-
Taken together, the two measures highlight a growing tension in a state that prides itself on stewardship of the environment, as policymakers aim to protect threatened or endangered animals while also keeping people, pets and livestock safe.—
Sharon Bernstein,
Sacbee.com,
29 May 2026
-
Taken together, the network signals a significant upgrade in Beijing’s efforts to ensure second-strike capability, underscoring intensifying nuclear competition with the United States as tensions rise over issues such as Taiwan’s sovereignty.—
Reuters,
NBC news,
29 May 2026
Noun
-
The same goes for people with a condition called gastroparesis, which affects stomach nerves and muscles, and those susceptible to medullary thyroid cancer.—
Maia Rosenfeld,
NBC news,
29 May 2026
-
The NeuroMD devices are based on what the company refers to as Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation (NMES) technology, which targets both motor nerves and sensory nerves.—
Daniel Fusch,
USA Today,
28 May 2026
Noun
-
Market jumpiness can serve as a good moment for those nearing the end of their career to make sure their nest egg is prepared for a downturn, Benz said.—
Annie Nova,Ryan Ermey,
CNBC,
5 Mar. 2026
-
Conference Board economist Dana Peterson noted these state indexes have a history of statistical jumpiness.—
Jonathan Lansner,
Oc Register,
30 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Restiveness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/restiveness. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
