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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 Atticus, like the best actors, just seems a complete natural in front of the camera and creates a haunting portrait of a young man whose violent restless nature is not easy to tame, even as Clemens’ empathetic Rebecca tries. — Pete Hammond, Deadline, 8 Sep. 2026 His supervisor, Bernard Romein, encouraged the restless youth to stay in school and helped open his mind to the world of art. — Hilton Als, New Yorker, 7 Sep. 2026 The holdout The crowds of journalists and spectators became increasingly restless throughout the days of deliberations, testing the patience of staff at the Plymouth trial courthouse, a pristine legal complex surrounded by quiet fields and farmland. — Nicki Brown, CNN Money, 6 Sep. 2026 What prompted the restless night was the Aggies converting 10 of 17 third-down plays (Trey Hedden connected on nine straight third-down pass plays). — Bob Ferrante, The Orlando Sentinel, 6 Sep. 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
  • Upheavals so profound are not accomplished without loosing uneasy spirits that will haunt us for many days.
    — J. B. MacKinnon, Harpers Magazine, 22 Sep. 2026
  • Silicon sampling troubles some polling traditionalists who are uneasy about ethical and other implications of simulating human responses.
    — W. Joseph Campbell, The Conversation, 22 Sep. 2026
Definition of uneasy
Adjective
  • There were maybe a few extra news crews reporting on the show as people filed in and out, but if Sheeran hadn’t brought it up, the crowd did not seem like one particularly anxious about any elephant in the room.
    — Brendan Menapace, Billboard, 20 Sep. 2026
  • Dislodging these forces from the machinery of the state has been neither swift nor straightforward, and even those most anxious for change are hard-pressed to offer practical solutions.
    — Will Freeman, The Atlantic, 20 Sep. 2026
Definition of anxious
Adjective
  • White’s Jimmy Hurdstrom is a good-hearted yet rough-around-the-edges ranch hand who evolved from a troubled criminal into a resilient, proud cowboy.
    — Denise Petski, Deadline, 16 Sep. 2026
  • The second follows Hadley Baxter, a troubled actress who has signed on to star in a biopic of Graves after her journal from the grand flight is found.
    — David Faris, TheWeek, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of troubled
Adjective
  • French President Emanuel Macron delivered a briefing to the candidates running to succeed him so disturbing that even the far-right National Rally’s leaders emerged denouncing Russian hybrid attacks.
    — Ben Smith, semafor.com, 21 Sep. 2026
  • The 72-year-old Cuban widow filed for temporary custody shortly after the disturbing incident.
    — Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 21 Sep. 2026
Definition of disturbing
Adjective
  • The unsettled pattern is expected to continue into next week, with 60–80% rain and storm chances Monday through Wednesday.
    — Keily Alfonzo, The Orlando Sentinel, 19 Sep. 2026
  • What unsettled investors was the gap between the Fed's economic forecasts and Warsh's remarks.
    — Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 17 Sep. 2026
Definition of unsettled
Adjective
  • The prompt makes the room tense, eager, mutually supportive and quietly competitive.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 24 Sep. 2026
  • Up to 2,000 jobs are at risk under the savings strategy, while the BBC is also involved in tense negotiations with unions over employee pay rises.
    — Jake Kanter, Deadline, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of tense
Adjective
  • AmCham Myanmar's allegations against Castillo center around his lobbying effort aimed at generating interest in doing business with the restive Southeast Asian nation.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 16 Sep. 2026
  • Midterm elections are historically challenging for a president’s party as restive voters seek change.
    — Steven Sloan, Chicago Tribune, 6 Sep. 2026
Definition of restive
Adjective
  • Gael is herself a little nervous, not only about the tension but about leaving Kayden.
    — Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 22 Sep. 2026
  • Just after the sun melted into the sea a deer trotted by, followed by its more nervous baby.
    — David G. Allan, CNN Money, 22 Sep. 2026
Definition of nervous

Browse Nearby Words

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 25 Sep. 2026.

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