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
Local legends speak of restless spirits, mysterious voices, and supernatural activity, although many claims are impossible to verify.
—
Kaif Shaikh,
Interesting Engineering,
15 June 2026
James Boyard, a Haitian police officer and security expert, was abducted Thursday morning in Raimbol in the Bourdon neighborhood as the family traveled through the capital to see a doctor after a restless night caring for their sick daughter.
—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
14 June 2026
From Prince Harry and Princess Diana’s matching moments in the late ’80s to Prince Louis’s famously restless balcony appearances, each ceremony has delivered its share of lighthearted highlights.
—
Staff Author,
InStyle,
13 June 2026
Dog Day Afternoon is a definitive '70s film, with its gritty, unpolished vision of a restless New York and a dark sense of humor in its portrayal of a heist gone horribly wrong.
—
Eric Farwell,
Entertainment Weekly,
12 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for restless
Kaif Shaikh,
Interesting Engineering,
15 June 2026
James Boyard, a Haitian police officer and security expert, was abducted Thursday morning in Raimbol in the Bourdon neighborhood as the family traveled through the capital to see a doctor after a restless night caring for their sick daughter.
—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
14 June 2026
From Prince Harry and Princess Diana’s matching moments in the late ’80s to Prince Louis’s famously restless balcony appearances, each ceremony has delivered its share of lighthearted highlights.
—
Staff Author,
InStyle,
13 June 2026
Dog Day Afternoon is a definitive '70s film, with its gritty, unpolished vision of a restless New York and a dark sense of humor in its portrayal of a heist gone horribly wrong.
—
Eric Farwell,
Entertainment Weekly,
12 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for restless
Recent Examples of Synonyms for restless
Adjective
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As the nation gears up to celebrate its 250th birthday, most Americans feel uneasy about their present, and pessimistic about their future, polls show.
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Sanders takes an uneasy step, into his wonderful, painful childhood.
Adjective
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Though fans are anxious to see Andrade return to more events, her job in Rio is done.
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Homeless, his body torn, Odysseus needs to get back to her and Telemachus, his anxious son, and to clean up the mess.
Adjective
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For Kelly, the Mexican release is also another chapter in the unlikely afterlife of a film that has continued to attract new audiences long after its troubled theatrical debut.
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De la Espriella promised El Salvador-style mega-prisons, while Cepeda promised to salvage Petro’s troubled ‘total peace’ talks with rebel groups.
Adjective
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There were many disturbing parts of Kerstin’s story left unpursued.
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The film is a modern take on the creature horror film told from the perspective of a young boy who slowly begins to discover that his beloved parents are hiding a disturbing secret about his mother’s true nature.
Adjective
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Temperatures remain below average today as an unsettled pattern continues, but drier weather and scorching temperatures are coming.
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Similar to yesterday, our weather will remain unsettled through the day with plenty of cloud cover and a chance of rain that will peak in the afternoon hours.
Adjective
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American supporters were tense through the second half, in which both teams were tied until the final play, when Türkiye tipped in a buzzer-beating goal to win the match 3-2.
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In Edward Zwick's tense Civil War drama about the first all-Black Army regiment, freedmen and freedom seekers volunteer to prove to white America and themselves that liberty is worth dying for.
Adjective
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Iran’s new leaders are acutely aware that Iranians remain restive and expect the government to ease their economic plight.
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However, while voters are restive and angry, this ungovernability cannot all be blamed on them.
Adjective
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Oprah selected it for her book club; at her compound in Montecito, Whitehead was so nervous that her staff insisted on blow-drying the damp patches of his dress shirt before they were introduced.
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The low unemployment rate had made many economists nervous, including some on the Fed.
Cite this Entry
“Restless.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/restless. Accessed 2 Jul. 2026.
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