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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of restlessness
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
Modern routines often involve waiting, repetition, and low-level restlessness.
—New Atlas, 4 Jan. 2026
Emotional restlessness or impatience may surface as a result.
—Alexis Simmerman, Austin American Statesman, 2 Jan. 2026
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
Modern routines often involve waiting, repetition, and low-level restlessness.
—New Atlas, 4 Jan. 2026
Emotional restlessness or impatience may surface as a result.
—Alexis Simmerman, Austin American Statesman, 2 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for restlessness
Noun
-
The head of artistic programming at the Kennedy Center abruptly stepped away from his post less than two weeks after he was named to the job in the latest sign of turmoil at the iconic performing arts venue.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
30 Jan. 2026
-
Sports technology transactions thrived in 2025, despite the advent of tariffs, a government shutdown and geopolitical turmoil.—
Luisa Beltran,
Sportico.com,
29 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
This pint-sized Funto mini watercolor set can bust boredom without permanently turning your tray table into a piece of modern art.—
Amelia McBride,
Travel + Leisure,
28 Jan. 2026
-
Southerners experience quick dramatic bursts of overnight freezes, ice storms, and occasional dustings of snow, and nothing soothes cold-weather boredom like a grandma and her activities.—
Kaitlyn Yarborough,
Southern Living,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The sweeps, in addition to crowd-management responsibilities, are typically dealt with by local police, who often have more experience and training in de-escalating large demonstrations and tamping down civil unrest.—
Anna Schecter,
CBS News,
28 Jan. 2026
-
But two shootings of US citizens and scenes of unrest in Minnesota are blotting out any hope of that.—
Shelby Talcott,
semafor.com,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Much of the excitement is unfolding along the Nile.—
Laura Begley Bloom,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
-
You’re attracted to someone who feels like peace and excitement all at once.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
29 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Restlessness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/restlessness. Accessed 3 Feb. 2026.
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