restless

adjective

ˈrest-ləs How to pronounce restless (audio)
Definition of restlessnext
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

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 restless Marked by restless lines, these works depict a woman tentatively emerging from a cocoon in a ritual of transformation and emancipation. — Tatiane De Assis, ARTnews.com, 21 Oct. 2026 Snapping open and shut the phone satisfied some deep, restless urge, and the same was true for the rotational flourish of the wrist involved in opening and closing the knife. — Terrence O'Brien, The Verge, 17 Oct. 2026 The basal ganglia get better at their job during the first thirty years of life; this is partly why kids are more impulsive and restless than adults. — Joshua Rothman, New Yorker, 16 Oct. 2026 The 16-track set is a truly thrilling journey through the relentless ambition and restless psyche of a young Black woman who’s dedicated her life to navigating the notoriously tumultuous music industry. — Kyle Denis, Billboard, 12 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for restless
Recent Examples of Synonyms for restless
  1. uneasy
  2. anxious
  3. troubled
  4. disturbing
  5. unsettled
  6. tense
  7. restive
  8. nervous
Adjective
  • But bond markets are already uneasy with Brazil's growing debt-to-GDP ratio, and are likely to demand an ever-higher premium if public spending rises significantly.
    — Jenni Reid, CNBC, 27 Oct. 2026
  • The effort is backed by an uneasy alliance between the right-wing Make America Healthy Again movement and progressives, both motivated by concerns over food safety.
    — Elijah Wolfson, Washington Post, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of uneasy
Adjective
  • The director general was attempting to lift the gloom after being beset with questions from anxious employees about job losses, service reductions, and general retrenchment.
    — Max Goldbart, Deadline, 24 Oct. 2026
  • An anxious child Apart from her scribbled notes, scant details are available about Runa’s experience in detention, according to her lawyer Yoshihiro Mukai.
    — Hanako Montgomery, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of anxious
Adjective
  • In order to ensure the long-term sustainability of major investments in stadiums and arenas, governments must first prioritise the development of the troubled local sports sector.
    — Martin K.N Siele, semafor.com, 30 Oct. 2026
  • Amy Adams is mesmerizing as our troubled heroine, with Patricia Clarkson as her overbearing mother and Eliza Scanlen as her mysterious half-sister.
    — Radhika Seth, Vogue, 29 Oct. 2026
Definition of troubled
Adjective
  • One of the most disturbing reasons given was that the DOT will never install a speed reducer closer than a distance of 1,000 feet (nearly a quarter of a mile) from a speed camera.
    — Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 28 Oct. 2026
  • Family members reported objects disappearing, beds lifting, unexplained odors, and other disturbing occurrences in the house.
    — Frannie Comstock, Encyclopedia Britannica, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of disturbing
Adjective
  • However, the lack of a hybrid option, the touchscreen-heavy climate controls, and the occasionally unsettled ride prevent the Atlas from separating itself from the pack.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 24 Oct. 2026
  • But instead of bringing unsettled weather, the offshore storm helped produce cloud-free skies from Maine to Florida.
    — Washington Post, Washington Post, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of unsettled
Adjective
  • Although a tense urban peace has taken hold since then, many residents of Paris, Toulouse, Marseille and other cities beset by riots still feel under siege, much like Los Angeles after the 1992 riots.
    — Michael Finnegan, Los Angeles Times, 28 Oct. 2026
  • The story opens with an incredibly tense first scene, with Jimmy Stewart’s Scottie chasing a suspect across rooftops in San Francisco.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of tense
Adjective
  • Mattel thwarted restive shareholders by inviting one of them to come inside and play.
    — Rohan Goswami, semafor.com, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Pakistani security forces killed five militants in an intense shootout and freed 23 hostages in the country’s restive southwest, the military said Sunday.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 20 Sep. 2026
Definition of restive
Adjective
  • That sounds appealing, especially to investors nervous about market declines.
    — Daniel Kern, Forbes.com, 26 Oct. 2026
  • Shopkeepers boarded up windows while others opened temporarily and endured a nervous Saturday afternoon, after around 3,000 shops were damaged or looted last weekend.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of nervous

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restiveness
restless
restlessness
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Cite this Entry

“Restless.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/restless. Accessed 30 Oct. 2026.

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