1
as in uneasy
lacking or denying rest
the worried mother spent a restless night, tossing and turning in bed for hours
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of restless
Juliette Binoche has spent four decades embodying the restless intelligence of French and European cinema, moving effortlessly between auteurs and emotional registers.
—
Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 13 Feb. 2026
But a restless Jackie (Naomi Watts) only wants to recover at home.
—Erin Jensen, USA Today, 12 Feb. 2026
Composer and sound designer Christopher Kriz’s transitional music amplifies Hedda’s restless internal state with electric guitar and drums backed by a relentless, clock-like beat.
—Emily McClanathan, Chicago Tribune, 11 Feb. 2026
With no parade down the Canyon of Heroes since the Obama Administration, Yankees fans aren’t wrong to feel restless as the Chase For 28 continues.
—Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 11 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for restless
Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 13 Feb. 2026
But a restless Jackie (Naomi Watts) only wants to recover at home.
—Erin Jensen, USA Today, 12 Feb. 2026
Composer and sound designer Christopher Kriz’s transitional music amplifies Hedda’s restless internal state with electric guitar and drums backed by a relentless, clock-like beat.
—Emily McClanathan, Chicago Tribune, 11 Feb. 2026
With no parade down the Canyon of Heroes since the Obama Administration, Yankees fans aren’t wrong to feel restless as the Chase For 28 continues.
—Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 11 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for restless
Recent Examples of Synonyms for restless
Adjective
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Though the private military firm has been credited with helping security forces get into neighborhoods and recently blew up the home of one of the country’s most notorious warlords, the presence of mercenaries operating in Haiti continues to make some lawmakers uneasy.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
11 Feb. 2026
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As the pair struggles to survive the brutal Canadian backcountry, an uneasy bond forms.—
Andreas Wiseman,
Deadline,
10 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Some anxious Republicans have urged him to show more public displays of empathy.—
Susan Page,
USA Today,
16 Feb. 2026
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And things got as anxious as a guy on a first date with the prettiest girl in school.—
Kirk Kenney,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
15 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Still, the Bahamian trade route, which began picking up steam in the early months of 2025, has become a key piece of California’s troubled supply chain.—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
16 Feb. 2026
-
Still, the Bahamian trade route, which began picking up steam in the early months of 2025, has become a key piece of California’s troubled supply chain.—
Will Kubzansky,
Fortune,
15 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Nell Tiger Free stars as a young novice who works at a Catholic orphanage plagued by mysterious, disturbing circumstances.—
Kevin Jacobsen,
Entertainment Weekly,
21 Feb. 2026
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In an initial statement Wednesday, Blalock said the video is disturbing and the parents and families of these students should be embarrassed.—
Allie Hennard,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
20 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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The National Weather Service's San Francisco office said in its daily forecast discussion that conditions will stay unsettled into the weekend, with another round of rain and wind likely, and the coldest nights expected late Thursday into Friday morning.—
Carlos E. Castañeda,
CBS News,
17 Feb. 2026
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Meanwhile, on the business side of the operation, the Valkyries are operating as if the season — set to open May 8 in Seattle — will proceed, even as rules and dates for an expansion draft, free agency and the college draft remain unsettled.—
Joseph Dycus,
Mercury News,
11 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Leadership sets the tone, and right now that tone feels tense and joyless.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
21 Feb. 2026
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The tense talks continued into a second day but concluded without progress, in a diplomatic effort that seemed little more than another stalling game for Putin.—
Elizabeth Shackelford,
Chicago Tribune,
20 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Sarwar’s decision to call for Starmer to step down could embolden restive Labour lawmakers to do the same.—
Christian Edwards,
CNN Money,
9 Feb. 2026
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These elevated plants can be styled year-round with restive ribbons, colorful stones, or subtle seasonal accents to match your porch vibe.—
Mariana Best,
Better Homes & Gardens,
18 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Given the snowy conditions and fatigue levels, these are nervous moments for the athletes, with mere seconds separating winning from losing.—
Ben Church,
CNN Money,
18 Feb. 2026
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Hollywood version The team may have been extra nervous given that the previous high-profile adaptation of The House of the Spirits was a 1993 movie in English starring Hollywood actors like Meryl Streep, Glenn Close and Jeremy Irons.—
Max Goldbart,
Deadline,
17 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Restless.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/restless. Accessed 24 Feb. 2026.
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