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restive

adjective
res·​tive | \ ˈre-stiv How to pronounce restive (audio) \

Definition of restive

1 : stubbornly resisting control : balky
2 : marked by impatience or uneasiness : fidgety
Other Words from restive Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym Did You Know? Example Sentences Learn More about restive

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Other Words from restive

restively adverb
restiveness noun

Choose the Right Synonym for restive

contrary, perverse, restive, balky, wayward mean inclined to resist authority or control. contrary implies a temperamental unwillingness to accept orders or advice. a contrary child perverse may imply wrongheaded, determined, or cranky opposition to what is reasonable or normal. a perverse, intractable critic restive suggests unwillingness or inability to submit to discipline or follow orders. tired soldiers growing restive balky suggests a refusing to proceed in a desired direction or course of action. a balky witness wayward suggests strong-willed capriciousness and irregularity in behavior. a school for wayward youths

Did You Know?

Restive ultimately comes from the Anglo-French word rester, meaning "to stop, resist, or remain." In its earliest use, restive meant "sluggish" or "inactive," though this sense is no longer in use. Another early sense was "stubborn, obstinate." Specifically, restive often referred to horses that refused to do as commanded. This general application to unruly horses may have influenced the development of the "fidgety, impatient" sense of restive. Some usage commentators have objected to this newer sense, but it has been in use for well over a century, and is now the more common of the uses.

Examples of restive in a Sentence

the restive horse threw its head and refused to move when the rider urged it forward spent a restive night worrying about the next day's exam

Recent Examples on the Web

 Critics see the latest crackdown on increasingly bold separatists as an action likely to frustrate effective school resumption (on Sept. 2) for the third consecutive year in the restive English-speaking regions. — Amindeh Blaise Atabong, Quartz Africa, "Cameroon’s Anglophone separatist leaders have been jailed for life," 20 Aug. 2019 Thousands of troops were deployed to the restive region amid fears that the government's steps could spark unrest. — Emily Schmall, chicagotribune.com, "Troops lock down Kashmir as India votes to strip its statehood status," 6 Aug. 2019 Residents reportedly had their phone and internet access cut off, while thousands of troops were deployed to the restive region amid fears the government’s steps could spark unrest. — Fox News, "Pakistan's PM warns of suicide attacks, war after India ends disputed Kashmir's special status," 6 Aug. 2019 The restive population, whose 2009 uprisings drew no meaningful support from Obama, is stirring again. — Andrew C. Mccarthy, National Review, "For Regime Change in Iran," 29 June 2019 The nation’s second-largest state is heading down the same path as the largest state, with greater ethnic diversity, more young people voting and suburban residents increasingly restive about Trump. — San Diego Union-Tribune, "Column: More bumps for GOP on road to 2020 election," 18 Aug. 2019 As daylight fades, security forces retreat from the streets of restive neighborhoods. — Niha Masih, Washington Post, "‘A dormant volcano’: Kashmir’s streets are quiet, but residents seethe with resentment," 15 Aug. 2019 Only a couple of hours before her demise, Swaraj had tweeted thanking Modi for his government’s move to revoke Jammu & Kashmir’s special status and bifurcate the restive state. — Niharika Sharma, Quartz India, "Sushma Swaraj, India’s former foreign minister who reached out to people, has passed away," 7 Aug. 2019 Experts believe more than 1m Uighurs—a mostly Muslim ethnic minority in China—have been locked up as part of a campaign to make the region less restive. — The Economist, "Politics this week," 13 July 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'restive.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of restive

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

History and Etymology for restive

Middle English restyf, from Anglo-French restif, from rester to stop, resist, remain

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More Definitions for restive

restive

adjective
How to pronounce restive (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of restive

formal : feeling bored or impatient while waiting for something to happen or change

See the full definition for restive in the English Language Learners Dictionary

restive

adjective
res·​tive | \ ˈre-stiv How to pronounce restive (audio) \

Kids Definition of restive

: showing impatience, nervousness, or discomfort a restive crowd

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