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

Relevance

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 From the volatile peaks of Mount Etna to the restless Phlegraean Fields near Naples, understanding these unique gas signatures is important for assessing volcanic hazard. — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 13 July 2026 The denial was a hit to Wilber’s spirit, but Yadira tried to calm the restless teenager. — Itzel Luna, Los Angeles Times, 10 July 2026 Unlike more overtly depressive takes on this role, Bos’ Hamlet is impetuous and sardonic, often bounding up three stairs in a single step and unspooling his words, words, words as if his mouth can’t keep up with his restless mind. — Emily McClanathan, Chicago Tribune, 9 July 2026 The London trio updates the naive humanism of 2000s indie-folk with modern dread and restless experimentation on its ambitious full-length debut. — Sadie Sartini Garner, Pitchfork, 7 July 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 further listens reveal something uneasy below the surface.
    — Ethan Beck, Pitchfork, 23 July 2026
  • Casey imagines America as a crumbling hotel, with each of the album’s nine songs occupying a room haunted by its own uneasy guest.
    — SPIN Staff, SPIN, 22 July 2026
Definition of uneasy
Adjective
  • Kids who, like him, are growing up afraid and anxious because of domestic violence at home, and who need what Torre didn’t have — somewhere safe to go to for help.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 26 July 2026
  • In June, a group of anxious European policy researchers issued Europe 2031, a scenario in which civilization between the Urals and the Atlantic ends up at least functionally extinct.
    — Gideon Lewis-Kraus, New Yorker, 25 July 2026
Definition of anxious
Adjective
  • Beyond America’s troubled EV industry, Tesla is doing more than just surviving.
    — Tim Levin, The Atlantic, 24 July 2026
  • That can open the door for troubled cops to hop from one police department to another.
    — Meg Anderson, NPR, 23 July 2026
Definition of troubled
Adjective
  • In a handwritten criminal complaint, Patty’s ex-wife described a disturbing physical altercation that allegedly left her with a swollen arm, neck pain and a bump on her head.
    — Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 30 July 2026
  • The 1981 film revolves around a woman who begins exhibiting increasingly disturbing behavior after asking her husband for a divorce.
    — Justin Kroll, Deadline, 29 July 2026
Definition of disturbing
Adjective
  • The linebacker battle The most unsettled position headed into fall camp is the second linebacker position.
    — Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 July 2026
  • Cleveland head coach Todd Monken also inherited a team with an unsettled quarterback situation.
    — Mike Jones, New York Times, 27 July 2026
Definition of unsettled
Adjective
  • The first is a tense sequence where Hwang as he and a group of men shoot their way through the wreckage of their town — only to finally come face to face with the gigantic alien preying upon them.
    — Angelique Jackson, Variety, 24 July 2026
  • Cordes and Haake are keen and tense, their hands raised, but Hasnie has relaxed, withdrawing briefly into her thoughts.
    — Katy Waldman, New Yorker, 24 July 2026
Definition of tense
Adjective
  • However, in September 2025, Nepal’s restive Gen Z population shocked the world (and the country’s gerontocracy) by taking to the streets to demand change.
    — Vasuki Shastry, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026
  • Burnham, from Britain’s left-leaning Labour Party, faces restive voters seeking relief from the high cost of living.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 22 July 2026
Definition of restive
Adjective
  • And investors are increasingly nervous about when and whether the mind-boggling sums being spent by Big Tech on data centers will ever generate returns.
    — Allison Morrow, CNN Money, 23 July 2026
  • This can reduce uncertainty for patients who are nervous about traveling abroad.
    — Nia Bowers, USA Today, 22 July 2026
Definition of nervous

Browse Nearby Words

restiveness
restless
restlessness
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Restless.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/restless. Accessed 31 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on restless

Nglish: Translation of restless for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of comely

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

Why does English have so many silent letters?

Your vs. You're: How to Use Them Correctly
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Dutch Treat and French Leave: Eight Place-Based Compounds

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

The Words of the Week - Jul. 31

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)
See More

Popular

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Dutch Treat and French Leave: Eight Place-Based Compounds

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
chain-question-mark
Missing Link Quiz July 2026 Five seconds to figure out the word that fits bot...
See All