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

Derived Forms

• ˈrestiveness, noun
• ˈrestively, adverb

Other Words From

• restive·ly adverb
• restive·ness 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

Ethiopia’s prime minister, Abiy Ahmed, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2019, a year into his tenure, for making peace with Eritrea but is now starving hundreds of thousands of his citizens to bring a restive region to heel.

From Washington Post

When Abiy Ahmed, Ethiopia’s prime minister, launched an attack on the restive region of Tigray in his country’s north last November, he promised it would be a swift victory for his forces.

From Time

Curiously, the way Below Zero oscillates from long restive stretches between points of interest to short bursts of perilous activity absorbed my attention in ways many more-frenzied popular horror games don’t.

From Washington Post

Workers had to sign a “Conditions of Employment” slip that listed “agitation” and “insubordination” as grounds for firing, and those living in the company town risked losing their home if they were seen as being too restive.

From ProPublica

International border tensions have defined the restive region, which has been heavily militarized, with civil protests and terror attacks over several decades.

From Quartz

The U.S. launched campaigns in the restive Iraqi city of Fallujah and a surge campaign in Baghdad.

From The Daily Beast

The U.S. military is finally starting to train Iraqi troops to fight ISIS in restive Anbar province.

From The Daily Beast

The great exception, of course, was Ireland, its most restive component.

From The Daily Beast

On Friday, the restive Ukrainian parliament, now dominated by her political allies, voted to free her.

From The Daily Beast

Levinson pointed to the the SInai Peninsula, the restive swath of desert that links Israel to Egypt.

From The Daily Beast

A handsome soldier on a restive bay mare came next, and behind him a huge touring car with a pompous black chauffeur.

From Project Gutenberg

Long grass bordered the road on either side, and Barrington's horse suddenly shied and became restive.

From Project Gutenberg

Even the platform supporters grew restive unconsciously, and stirred and coughed.

From Project Gutenberg

Whatever court he went to (and he was often obliged to go to restive and refractory ones) he brought them into his measures.

From Project Gutenberg

But sometimes, as now, she was restive under his too close scrutiny.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

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