Synonyms of restlessness

restlessness

noun

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

• turmoil
• unrest
• excitement
• anxiety
• uneasiness
• tension
• confusion
• unease
• disquiet
• turbulence
• upheaval
• restiveness
• agitation
• fermentation
• ferment
• chaos
• trouble
• disruption
• commotion
• unquietness
• storm
• Sturm und Drang
• anarchy
• stir
• perturbation
• disquietude
• tumult
• unsettlement
• disorder
• hubbub
• tumultuousness
• fidgets
• uproar
• inquietude
• queasiness
• moil
• welter

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• ease
• peace
• tranquility
• calm
• quiet
• peacefulness
• order
• orderliness

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

• boredom
• ennui
• weariness
• tedium
• melancholy
• listlessness
• blahs
• lethargy
• doldrums
• dullness
• indifference
• lifelessness
• monotony
• languor
• joylessness
• lassitude
• torpidity
• cheerlessness
• languidness
• torpor
• apathy
• unconcern
• sameness
• dispiritedness
• monotonousness

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• fascination
• absorption
• involvement
• excitement
• enchantment
• stimulation
• engagement
• immersion
• engrossment
• captivation
• bewitchment
• animation
• amusement
• beguilement
• relief
• entertainment
• invigoration
• enlivenment
• diversion

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of restlessness

Dylan had often sung of independence and created with a concomitant restlessness. — Grayson Haver Currin, Pitchfork, 7 Nov. 2026

In studies, withdrawal from kratom has appeared mild on a scale that measures clinical opioid withdrawal, with symptoms like anxiety, fatigue, gastrointestinal issues, and restlessness. — Theresa Gaffney, STAT, 6 Nov. 2026

These everyday behaviors are often perceived as signs of restlessness. — Cheyenne Buckingham, Washington Post, 6 Nov. 2026

Cheng told Hackensack Meridian Health that drinking caffeine during this window can temporarily raise cortisol even further, potentially contributing to feelings of anxiety or restlessness. — Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 15 Oct. 2026

Pouring caffeine on top of that peak can push cortisol even higher, which Cheng said may contribute to anxiety and restlessness. — Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 15 Oct. 2026

With both of these planets transiting Air signs, there is a cerebral side to this alignment, presenting the opportunity to channel feelings of restlessness into something resourceful. — Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 25 Sep. 2026

Other common sleep issues that don’t affect the airways include movement disorders that cause nighttime restlessness or narcolepsy, a neurological disorder that affects the body’s sleep-wake cycles and causes excessive sleepiness. — Samantha Agate, Sacbee.com, 24 Sep. 2026

Luengo became part of that process, helping to build a character who exists caught between her restlessness and her responsibility. — Callum McLennan, Variety, 24 Sep. 2026