restive

[res-tiv]

adjective

1. impatient of control, restraint, or delay, as persons; restless; uneasy.

   Synonyms: unquiet, nervous
   Antonyms: quiet, patient

2. refractory; stubborn.

   Synonyms: obstinate, disobedient, recalcitrant
   Antonyms: tractable, obedient

3. refusing to go forward; balky.

   a restive horse.

restive

/ ˈrɛstɪv /

adjective

1. restless, nervous, or uneasy

2. impatient of control or authority

Other Word Forms

• restively adverb
• restiveness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of restive¹

1375–1425; rest ² + -ive; replacing late Middle English restif stationary, balking < Old French: inert

Word History and Origins

Origin of restive¹

C16: from Old French restif balky, from rester to remain

Example Sentences

Labor peace on the often restive docks was ensured by unsavory—and, of course, unpublicized—cooperation between the military and Mafia-controlled waterfront gangs.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The military has been heavily involved, a measure made possible by the PSN designation, causing tension in the restive region.

Read more on Barron's

In the two restive Anglophone regions, where separatists attempted to bar residents from voting, some did turn out at the polling stations.

Read more on BBC

Jihadists linked to the Islamic State attacked an army base in Nigeria's restive north with grenades and drones killing seven soldiers, and littered a key highway with explosives, military sources told AFP Saturday.

Read more on Barron's

The Conservatives’ customary rival, the Labour Party, is grinding through a crisis of its own as Prime Minister Keir Starmer faces restive backbenchers and a dissolving electoral base.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• agitated 
• fractious 
• jittery 
• recalcitrant 
• restless 
• tense 
• uneasy 
• unruly