1
as in uneasy
lacking or denying rest
the worried mother spent a restless night, tossing and turning in bed for hours
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in anxious
marked by or causing agitation or uncomfortable feelings
the figure skater was visibly restless as she waited for her scores to be posted
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Recent Examples of restless
One, previously restless and unsettled, discovered a love for musical theatre through a weekender’s support.
—
Avivah Wittenberg-Cox, Forbes.com, 19 June 2025
The trees were restless beyond my window and the sky looked grey and heavy with unfallen rain.
—Essence, 16 June 2025
Sleep disturbances, including insomnia, restless sleep, and daytime drowsiness, are common in people with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD.
—Paul McClure 09, New Atlas, 9 June 2025
But the road to telling that story began with a restless boy in a quiet town, one who found escape not on the water, but in the light of screens both big and small, captivated by Steven Spielberg’s work and the classic soap opera Guiding Light.
—Jp Mangalindan, Time, 19 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for restless
Avivah Wittenberg-Cox, Forbes.com, 19 June 2025
The trees were restless beyond my window and the sky looked grey and heavy with unfallen rain.
—Essence, 16 June 2025
Sleep disturbances, including insomnia, restless sleep, and daytime drowsiness, are common in people with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD.
—Paul McClure 09, New Atlas, 9 June 2025
But the road to telling that story began with a restless boy in a quiet town, one who found escape not on the water, but in the light of screens both big and small, captivated by Steven Spielberg’s work and the classic soap opera Guiding Light.
—Jp Mangalindan, Time, 19 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for restless
Recent Examples of Synonyms for restless
Adjective
-
Outlook: Stability or Strain? Oil markets in 2024 were defined by an uneasy equilibrium.—
Robert Rapier,
Forbes.com,
8 July 2025
-
Given that uneasy reminder, the small victory ultimately won by King and his followers is even more extraordinary and potent.—
Sophie van Bastelaer,
EW.com,
7 July 2025
Adjective
-
My expectation is that the veteran who has been in the Octagon against some of the heaviest hitters in the UFC’s heavyweight division is going to be anxious to test the young man who only has 35 seconds of UFC fight time to his name.—
Trent Reinsmith,
Forbes.com,
11 July 2025
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The choice of name was coincidental but Lee and Kirby were anxious to avoid any connection to radical politics.—
Ekow Eshun
July 11,
Literary Hub,
11 July 2025
Adjective
-
Tennessee State University finalized an agreement with the state to reallocate $96 million to address the university's immediate financial needs on June 17 — something university leaders hailed as pivotal in stabilizing the school's troubled finances.—
Rachel Wegner,
The Tennessean,
2 July 2025
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With multiple open betas and a long, troubled development history, it’s taken a good while for the game to find its feet, but Mecha Break is now finally available to play on general release.—
Ollie Barder,
Forbes.com,
2 July 2025
Adjective
-
In demand filmmaker Kim Tae-joon, who wrote and directed the disturbing tech thriller Unlocked for the streamer, is back with another feature that is sure to linger with its audience.—
Abid Rahman,
HollywoodReporter,
1 July 2025
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Even then, the fact that the package contained a bloody tracksuit is still disturbing and likely to create psychological trauma for the daughter.—
Jim Halterman,
Variety,
1 July 2025
Adjective
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Lake Bluff village trustees are continuing to discuss issues related to its flag policy, but the matter remains unsettled.—
Daniel I. Dorfman,
Chicago Tribune,
30 June 2025
-
The dog had become restless, unsettled, and had reacted suddenly, snapping at whoever was closest, which happened to be me.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
27 June 2025
Adjective
-
The coach withdrew him just after the hour mark against PSG and the cameras caught the forward looking tense and concerned on the bench.—
Mario Cortegana,
New York Times,
10 July 2025
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Eyewitness accounts reported that the sweltering temperatures, along with swarms of flies from a nearby stable, contributed to a tense atmosphere and slowed down debate.—
Marianne Krasny,
Forbes.com,
10 July 2025
Adjective
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Soon thereafter, Russia wrested control of two restive regions of Georgia, effectively preventing the country’s accession to NATO.—
Charles Kupchan,
Foreign Affairs,
20 June 2025
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On top of that, Iran has its own restive population of some 20 million ethnic Azeris—making up perhaps as much as a quarter of the Iranian population.—
Zaur Shiriyev,
Foreign Affairs,
26 May 2025
Adjective
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Watching his son evolve from a 4-star recruit out of Columbus High School in Miami to an eventual first-round pick out of Michigan State, Richardson doesn’t get too nervous or overly excited when Jase is on the court.—
Jason Beede,
The Orlando Sentinel,
30 June 2025
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But with Wirtz, there was suddenly an effort not to do that; the media got nervous about calling it a record.—
Zak Garner-Purkis,
Forbes.com,
30 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Restless.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/restless. Accessed 14 Jul. 2025.
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