1
as in uneasy
lacking or denying rest
the worried mother spent a restless night, tossing and turning in bed for hours
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in anxious
marked by or causing agitation or uncomfortable feelings
the figure skater was visibly restless as she waited for her scores to be posted
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Recent Examples of restless
His eventual band, the Family Stone, was racially mixed—rare at the time—and, from the beginning, shone with evidence of its leader’s sophistication and restless ear.
—
Vinson Cunningham, New Yorker, 25 Dec. 2025
Faced with a skeptical Supreme Court and a restless voter base that cannot be placated by unfunded rebates that are unlikely to materialize anyway, the administration appears poised to let the air out of its trade war.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 18 Dec. 2025
The actor has always had a restless talent, though.
—Andrew McGowan, Variety, 14 Dec. 2025
Prenatal sleep problems such as short sleep, sleep apnea and restless sleep can lead to preterm births and low birth weight in newborns.
—Jenalee Doom, The Conversation, 12 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for restless
Recent Examples of Synonyms for restless
Adjective
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Neighbors fear rising violence Residents said the shooting has left them uneasy.—
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But by evening, an uneasy calm had settled across the city.—
Adjective
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The self-laceration is done on Damon Albarn Time, though, as Idles’ usual anxious guitar rave-ups are slowed and stripped here to a skipping, reggae-ish crawl, as synths squeak in the background and Albarn offers support via his forever-distant, disembodied backing vocals.—
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Obviously, Meghan’s anxious about it.—
Adjective
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The film follows a weary delivery driver with months to live who saves a brilliant but troubled teenage girl.—
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But many parents of troubled adults face myriad obstacles in getting help for their children, said Pasquini, who is a former nine-year member of the Contra Costa County Mental Health Commission and who has long worked for changes in the state’s conservatorship laws.—
Adjective
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Despite already having declared her candidacy, McKnight voiced disturbing and violent threats against Sheehy.—
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This story contains a description of a shooting some readers may find disturbing.—
Adjective
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Venezuela’s political situation remains unsettled.—
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When Nicolás Maduro assumed Venezuela’s presidency in 2013, the country was already deeply unsettled after years of political polarization under Hugo Chávez, marked by shrinking freedoms and violent crackdowns on dissent.—
Adjective
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Yet the competitive reality hit hardest during a tense FIBA break.—
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Davis became the director of CPW in April 2023 and has overseen the state’s controversial and often-tense wolf reintroduction program.—
Adjective
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These political executions are a callous attempt by the authorities to frighten and silence an increasingly restive population no longer willing to accept their corrupt and oppressive rule.—
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Labour MPs are becoming restive.—
Adjective
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From a portable power bank to keep your phone charged to noise-canceling headphones that will drown out stressful sounds, these travel accessories will help nervous fliers and frequent travelers alike have easier journeys.—
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But now there's a new robo-tech in town, and my Roadie 3 is looking very nervous indeed.—
Cite this Entry
“Restless.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/restless. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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