1
as in turmoil
a disturbed or uneasy state
the restlessness of the crowd was apparent as it waited to learn whether the football player was seriously injured
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in boredom
the state of being bored
she began to pick at the grass near her hammock out of sheer restlessness
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of restlessness
Some signs of withdrawal from kratom might include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, muscle/joint aches, restlessness, runny nose, excessive yawning, and hot or cold flashes.
—
Gary Kirkilas Ii, Boston Herald, 1 Feb. 2026
The exercise of power, not surprisingly, contributed to the restlessness of a busy mind that waged battles against a committed opposition.
—Literary Hub, 29 Jan. 2026
Even in his stillest moments, Reilly hums with the restlessness of a jazz explorer.
—Brad Shoup, Pitchfork, 24 Jan. 2026
And that signal often shows up as restlessness or longing.
—Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 22 Jan. 2026
The kid who couldn’t stop building That restlessness goes back decades.
—Wyles Daniel, USA Today, 19 Jan. 2026
There were still fights to fight and Perfidia’s restlessness and struggles adjusting to motherhood led her to leave.
—Lindsey Underwood, Vanity Fair, 13 Jan. 2026
Bowie’s genius was a driver and a result of an unquenchable inner restlessness.
—Armin Rosen, The Washington Examiner, 9 Jan. 2026
This is because of the productive restlessness that Safdie fosters in his colleagues, many of whom have been at his side for decades, and, of course, the spirit of his wildly original new character.
—David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 7 Jan. 2026
Gary Kirkilas Ii, Boston Herald, 1 Feb. 2026
The exercise of power, not surprisingly, contributed to the restlessness of a busy mind that waged battles against a committed opposition.
—Literary Hub, 29 Jan. 2026
Even in his stillest moments, Reilly hums with the restlessness of a jazz explorer.
—Brad Shoup, Pitchfork, 24 Jan. 2026
And that signal often shows up as restlessness or longing.
—Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 22 Jan. 2026
The kid who couldn’t stop building That restlessness goes back decades.
—Wyles Daniel, USA Today, 19 Jan. 2026
There were still fights to fight and Perfidia’s restlessness and struggles adjusting to motherhood led her to leave.
—Lindsey Underwood, Vanity Fair, 13 Jan. 2026
Bowie’s genius was a driver and a result of an unquenchable inner restlessness.
—Armin Rosen, The Washington Examiner, 9 Jan. 2026
This is because of the productive restlessness that Safdie fosters in his colleagues, many of whom have been at his side for decades, and, of course, the spirit of his wildly original new character.
—David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 7 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for restlessness
Noun
-
Iran’s leaders have repeatedly threatened to intervene more forcefully to choke off oil supplies; regime change there could have a similar outcome, if the resulting internal turmoil disrupts production.—
Tim McDonnell,
semafor.com,
19 Feb. 2026
-
Her win itself was born from that turmoil.—
Nick El Hajj,
Des Moines Register,
19 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Pets staying at home alone while owners work suffer from boredom, which can cause chronic psychological distress and health problems.—
Margret Grebowicz,
Fortune,
13 Feb. 2026
-
But the flip side of such routine is the potential for boredom and lethargy.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
10 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Iran used overwhelming force against the protesters to clear people out of the streets, but also to buy the government time by preventing any future waves of unrest, said Alex Vatanka, a senior fellow at the Middle East Institute, a Washington think tank.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
17 Feb. 2026
-
Officials in law enforcement have said the number of police applicants looking to join a police force never quite rebounded since unrest around the nation led to protests and demonstrations in the wake of George Floyd’s death in 2020.—
Justin Muszynski,
Hartford Courant,
17 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Soldiers on the frontlines have told CNN of their excitement when their unit gets mentioned.—
Ivana Kottasová,
CNN Money,
20 Feb. 2026
-
The league would later shift to a no-entry fee policy, which added to the excitement.—
Dac Collins,
Outdoor Life,
19 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Restlessness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/restlessness. Accessed 24 Feb. 2026.
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