1
as in uneasy
lacking or denying rest
the worried mother spent a restless night, tossing and turning in bed for hours
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of restless
Joya was restless, not just her eyes but all of her.
—
Jhumpa Lahiri, New Yorker, 30 June 2025
But there’s also a fine line between being restless and being reckless, especially as their own record and the ups and downs of others clarify the landscape.
—Vahe Gregorian, Kansas City Star, 27 June 2025
Women are more likely to point to frequent awakenings or restless sleep, Dr. Won says.
—Erica Sloan, SELF, 25 June 2025
Higher nighttime temperatures can lead to insufficient or poor, restless sleep, which can compromise the immune system, increase the risk for cardiovascular disease and diminish cognitive performance.
—Rebecca Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 22 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for restless
Jhumpa Lahiri, New Yorker, 30 June 2025
But there’s also a fine line between being restless and being reckless, especially as their own record and the ups and downs of others clarify the landscape.
—Vahe Gregorian, Kansas City Star, 27 June 2025
Women are more likely to point to frequent awakenings or restless sleep, Dr. Won says.
—Erica Sloan, SELF, 25 June 2025
Higher nighttime temperatures can lead to insufficient or poor, restless sleep, which can compromise the immune system, increase the risk for cardiovascular disease and diminish cognitive performance.
—Rebecca Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 22 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for restless
Recent Examples of Synonyms for restless
Adjective
-
Outlook: Stability or Strain? Oil markets in 2024 were defined by an uneasy equilibrium.—
Robert Rapier,
Forbes.com,
8 July 2025
-
Given that uneasy reminder, the small victory ultimately won by King and his followers is even more extraordinary and potent.—
Sophie van Bastelaer,
EW.com,
7 July 2025
Adjective
-
My expectation is that the veteran who has been in the Octagon against some of the heaviest hitters in the UFC’s heavyweight division is going to be anxious to test the young man who only has 35 seconds of UFC fight time to his name.—
Trent Reinsmith,
Forbes.com,
11 July 2025
-
The choice of name was coincidental but Lee and Kirby were anxious to avoid any connection to radical politics.—
Ekow Eshun
July 11,
Literary Hub,
11 July 2025
Adjective
-
Son of Liam’s Map was a troubled sixth in the Kentucky Derby and a closing second in the Matt Winn Stakes in his last start.—
Danny Brewer,
Forbes.com,
16 July 2025
-
Bell is among at least 34 boys who stayed at Dozier and another 16 sent to Okeechobee — a separate boys’ school with a troubled history — who ended up on Florida’s death row, according to a review by The Marshall Project.—
The Marshall Project,
The Orlando Sentinel,
15 July 2025
Adjective
-
Scientists have found a new way to cheat the system – which is both ingenious and disturbing.—
Cornelia C. Walther,
Forbes.com,
12 July 2025
-
Pisciotta alleged that West’s disturbing behavior did not end after she was terminated at Yeezy.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
10 July 2025
Adjective
-
At the federal level, the regulatory environment for EWA companies remains unsettled.—
AJ Dhaliwal,
Forbes.com,
9 July 2025
-
So, when your gut feels unsettled, bone broth is a great, simple way to nourish without overloading.—
Morgan Fargo,
Vogue,
9 July 2025
Adjective
-
The unsettling noise was followed by a tense hour in the cabin, with many passengers crying, praying or showing signs of distress.—
Muri Assunção,
New York Daily News,
10 July 2025
-
Eyewitness accounts reported that the sweltering temperatures, along with swarms of flies from a nearby stable, contributed to a tense atmosphere and slowed down debate.—
Marianne Krasny,
Forbes.com,
10 July 2025
Adjective
-
Some of the richest Gulf Arab countries, such as Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, will worry that the destabilizing effects of a heavy-handed regime change could stir their own sizable and restive Shia Muslim populations.—
Matt Bradley,
NBC news,
24 June 2025
-
The regime relies on repression—crackdowns, imprisonment, torture, executions—to maintain control of a stifled and restive population.—
David Remnick,
New Yorker,
21 June 2025
Adjective
-
Then there's the real world, which is entirely different, so in reality people have nothing to be nervous about.—
Wesley Stenzel,
EW.com,
12 July 2025
-
The odds of a recession may be falling, but states appear to be betting that corporate leaders are still nervous.—
Scott Cohn,
CNBC,
12 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Restless.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/restless. Accessed 21 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share