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GRE vocabulary

restive

adjectiveHigh-frequency wordMore R words

restless and impatient, especially under restraint or control

Word origin: From Old French restif, balky or unwilling to move.

In a sentence

Restive in a sentence

Here are example sentences showing restive in a sentence.

The crowd grew restive as the delayed concert showed no sign of starting.

As the delay stretched past two hours, the grounded passengers grew increasingly restive.

Synonyms
restlessfidgetyuneasyedgy
Antonyms
calmcontentplacid
Usage & nuance

Using “restive” well

Restive describes restlessness and impatience, especially under restraint or control, as with a crowd or a horse resisting the rein. Note that despite resembling restful, its meaning is closer to the opposite.

Common questions

Questions about “restive

Restive (adjective) means restless and impatient, especially under restraint or control
Here is restive used in an example sentence: "The crowd grew restive as the delayed concert showed no sign of starting." Another example: "As the delay stretched past two hours, the grounded passengers grew increasingly restive."
Common synonyms for restive include restless, fidgety, uneasy, edgy.
Antonyms of restive include calm, content, placid.
Clusters with restless, fidgety, uneasy, and edgy in Sentence Equivalence. Its antonyms calm, content, and placid mark the settled opposite pole.
Yes. Restive is a high-frequency GRE word, so it is worth prioritising as you build your vocabulary.

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