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
These moments of sudden restlessness come for all of us sooner or later.
—
Big Think, 6 May 2026
Hours after the terrifying rampage, a similar fatal incident took place at Koodalminikyam Temple in Irinjalakuda when an elephant that had shown signs of restlessness during a ritual procession the night before broke out of its enclosure and attacked its handlers, per News Karnataka.
—Desiree Anello, PEOPLE, 3 May 2026
My daughter’s restlessness in a new place the night before was taking its toll.
—Tribune News Service, Baltimore Sun, 30 Apr. 2026
Uranus moving into Gemini incites restlessness with conventional routine.
—Usa Today, USA Today, 25 Apr. 2026
That same restlessness defined his personal life.
—Michelle Duncan, Architectural Digest, 22 Apr. 2026
That restlessness has already produced some distance traveled.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 10 Apr. 2026
Many women in this situation report persistent mood issues, fatigue, and restlessness.
—Erica Sloan, SELF, 6 Apr. 2026
The album’s adventurousness mirrors the themes at play, as Thundercat describes his own form of creative restlessness.
—Jeff Ihaza, Rolling Stone, 4 Apr. 2026
Big Think, 6 May 2026
Hours after the terrifying rampage, a similar fatal incident took place at Koodalminikyam Temple in Irinjalakuda when an elephant that had shown signs of restlessness during a ritual procession the night before broke out of its enclosure and attacked its handlers, per News Karnataka.
—Desiree Anello, PEOPLE, 3 May 2026
My daughter’s restlessness in a new place the night before was taking its toll.
—Tribune News Service, Baltimore Sun, 30 Apr. 2026
Uranus moving into Gemini incites restlessness with conventional routine.
—Usa Today, USA Today, 25 Apr. 2026
That same restlessness defined his personal life.
—Michelle Duncan, Architectural Digest, 22 Apr. 2026
That restlessness has already produced some distance traveled.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 10 Apr. 2026
Many women in this situation report persistent mood issues, fatigue, and restlessness.
—Erica Sloan, SELF, 6 Apr. 2026
The album’s adventurousness mirrors the themes at play, as Thundercat describes his own form of creative restlessness.
—Jeff Ihaza, Rolling Stone, 4 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for restlessness
Noun
-
The most recent turmoil stems from the second of two rulings from the state’s highest court that focused on a referendum campaign, called People Not Politicians, that last year turned in more than 305,000 signatures to force a November statewide vote on the map.—
Kacen Bayless,
Kansas City Star,
14 May 2026
-
The cuts deepen the turmoil at Air India, following a devastating crash last year and the departure of its CEO last month.—
J.D. Capelouto,
semafor.com,
14 May 2026
Noun
-
More importantly, interactions with sycophantic chatbots impart all the wrong habits for navigating the world of human relationships, where friction, disagreement, boredom and different opinions than your own are prevalent.—
Cody Turner,
The Conversation,
1 May 2026
-
Try to avoid late-night snacking out of habit, boredom, or stress.—
Lindsey DeSoto,
Health,
30 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Cárdenas returned to Nicaragua in the late 1970s to live in semi-retirement, but political unrest in the country, in the form of the Sandinista National Liberation Front, forced him to flee and eventually return to the United States.—
Ed Guzman,
Los Angeles Times,
11 May 2026
-
Russia is now roiled by rumors of organized unrest with months to go before parliamentary elections, while Putin himself faces allegations of extreme isolation and a weakening grip on power.—
Rafi Schwartz,
TheWeek,
11 May 2026
Noun
-
Fitzgerald said there’s no lingering disappointment following last weekend’s three losses, just excitement as his team attempts to claim the league title ahead of the postseason Big 12 tourney and NCAAs.—
Gary Bedore
May 14,
Kansas City Star,
14 May 2026
-
In a second post shared the next day, Miccio continued documenting her excitement with a new series of snaps of the happy pair.—
Tabitha Parent,
PEOPLE,
14 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Restlessness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/restlessness. Accessed 16 May. 2026.
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