restive
6
8.3
- adjective
- /ˈrɛstɪv/
- When they became restive, they found themselves locked in a philosophical cage of prejudices and rigid standards.
- increasingly restive
- become restive
- grow restive
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Watch on YouTubeWhen they became restive, they found themselves locked in a philosophical cage of prejudices and rigid standards.
- When they became restive, they found themselves locked in a philosophical cage of prejudices and rigid standards.
Examples
-
During the long meeting, many attendees grew restive and started shifting in their seats.
-
The common people of our country are war-weary, restive!
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In Moses' prolonged absence, the people grew restive and frightened, and the men planned for war.
Academic text (1995) -
"My mother's eyes grew restive, flitting fearfully around the room."
Fiction book (1997) -
Additionally, the new government will undertake the difficult task of reining in the increasingly restive republics of the federation.
Academic text (1999) -
How will Macedonia accommodate its restive ethnic Albanian minority and move beyond the province's current cold peace?
Academic text (2002) -
Poor morale and dissatisfaction with commanders sometimes made soldiers more restive and unwilling to follow tradition blindly.
Academic text (2010) -
The children became restive after waiting in line for so long.
-
As the performance dragged on, the audience became increasingly restive and began to whisper.
Synonyms
122
3.0
Not able to relax and stay still because of worry or boredom
105
2.8
Quickly annoyed when having to wait
87
5.0
Nervous and tense so you cannot relax
59
4.3
Feeling nervous and easily startled by sudden sounds
35
5.2
Feeling nervous and tense, easily upset
25
4.5
Feeling nervous and unable to stay still
19
7.2
Being very nervous and easily upset
3
6.5
Feeling worried and tense before a difficult event
2
7.9
Not calm or peaceful, often restless because of worry
1
7.4
Someone who is very nervous and easily upset
1
8.2
Feeling very nervous and tense because of worry
Antonyms
How Restless
Surface Forms
Morphology
Etymology
Restive comes from an old word like rest that meant 'to remain' or 'to stay'. It first described an animal that would 'stay' and refuse to move, and that picture helps explain why restive now means being unable to stay still because of impatience or worry.