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
In the spring of 1993, a group of restless Cartoon Network employees, led by VP of programming and TBS lifer Mike Lazzo, wanted to inject original programming targeted for adults into a rote repertory schedule of Looney Tunes and Tom & Jerry.
—
Eric Vilas-Boas, Vulture, 18 Mar. 2026
In Proof, Catherine (Edebiri), the brilliant but restless daughter of renowned mathematics professor Robert (Cheadle), is thrust into turmoil when a notebook containing a revelatory proof is discovered after his death.
—Greg Evans, Deadline, 17 Mar. 2026
Long car rides can make for fussy, restless kids.
—Dr. Katherine Williamson, Boston Herald, 15 Mar. 2026
In my opinion, there’s nothing worse than a disruptive, restless sleep.
—Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 15 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for restless
Eric Vilas-Boas, Vulture, 18 Mar. 2026
In Proof, Catherine (Edebiri), the brilliant but restless daughter of renowned mathematics professor Robert (Cheadle), is thrust into turmoil when a notebook containing a revelatory proof is discovered after his death.
—Greg Evans, Deadline, 17 Mar. 2026
Long car rides can make for fussy, restless kids.
—Dr. Katherine Williamson, Boston Herald, 15 Mar. 2026
In my opinion, there’s nothing worse than a disruptive, restless sleep.
—Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 15 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for restless
Recent Examples of Synonyms for restless
Adjective
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That neighbor also raised concerns about security, saying fewer on-site resources and changes in how calls are handled have left some people feeling uneasy.—
Daniel Wilkerson,
CBS News,
31 Mar. 2026
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As the war in Iran stretches into a fifth week, investors who had been hopeful for a quick resolution are growing increasingly uneasy about the real-world fallout from the conflict.—
Tanaya Macheel,
CNBC,
29 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Iran continues to fire missiles at Israel each day, disrupting the lives of millions of anxious and exhausted voters.—
Melanie Lidman,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Mar. 2026
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Investors have grown more anxious about inflation, with Treasury yields rising and consumer surveys showing short‑term price expectations drifting upward.—
Brendan Cole,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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In the past decade, his more scattershot discography has similarly seemed to reflect his troubled state of mind.—
Kelefa Sanneh,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
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Azabal plays Layal, a tightly wound Arabic professor whose troubled teenage son Daniel (Zolghadri) is expelled from high school, prompting her to escort him from Indiana to California to live with his estranged father.—
Anthony D'Alessandro,
Deadline,
30 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Most disturbing, the largest net loss of IRS filers continues to be among young adults.—
Editorial,
Boston Herald,
29 Mar. 2026
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So, yes, Reingold’s story identified some disturbing failures.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Overall, across the West, unsettled weather is expected early in the month, NOAA's Weather Prediction Center (WPC) said.—
Doyle Rice,
USA Today,
28 Mar. 2026
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However, forecast models indicate a more unsettled pattern may develop next week, likely mid- to late week, so conditions could change.—
Newsroom Meteorologist,
Houston Chronicle,
24 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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His absence comes at a tense moment in his second term.—
Elena Moore,
NPR,
28 Mar. 2026
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The park department began managing Fair Park in September, scrambling to transition and set up contracts for services like security and events after a tense split from its previous operator.—
Aria Jones,
Dallas Morning News,
27 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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When four of its members (Ogoni chiefs — one of whom was my mother’s brother-in-law) were brutally killed by restive Ogoni youths, the government arrested my father and eight of his colleagues.—
Noo Saro-Wiwa,
The Dial,
24 Mar. 2026
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Pakistan's military, in a statement, said 26 militants, including at least one Afghan, were killed in four separate operations in North Waziristan, Lakki Marwat, Bannu and Mir Ali districts in restive Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in recent days, near the Afghan border.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
25 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Who isn’t nervous meeting the prospective in-laws for the first time?—
Bill Goodykoontz,
AZCentral.com,
31 Mar. 2026
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Jason Bateman delivers the mundane analogy like a pro, blending sincerity and uncertainty inside his singular, nervous vocal rhythms.—
Andy Andersen,
Vulture,
30 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Restless.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/restless. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.
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