restive

adjective

res·​tive ˈre-stiv 

1

: stubbornly resisting control : balky

2

: marked by impatience or uneasiness : fidgety

restively adverb

restiveness noun

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.

Synonyms

• balky
• contrary
• contumacious
• defiant
• disobedient
• froward
• incompliant
• insubordinate
• intractable
• obstreperous
• rebel
• rebellious
• recalcitrant
• recusant
• refractory
• ungovernable
• unruly
• untoward
• wayward
• willful
• wilful

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

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

That restive beast on the edge of the Tiergarten would presumably expect nothing else. —Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 9 Dec. 2024

During that period, Ald. Edward Burke would introduce an alternative budget each fall — a move the restive City Council could theoretically try again this year, but has so far not undertaken. —Jake Sheridan, Chicago Tribune, 22 Oct. 2024

There’s also an oven mitt and potholder combo with restive plaid and Christmas trees from Spode. —Christopher Murray, Fox News, 7 Nov. 2024

The club has spent much of this season engaged in a bout of restive soul-searching. —Rory Smith, New York Times, 3 May 2024

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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Kids Definition

restive

adjective

res·​tive ˈres-tiv 

1

: stubbornly fighting control : balky

a restive horse

2

: showing impatience or uneasiness : fidgety

the crowd grew restive

restively adverb

restiveness noun