Restive — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

Restive (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

1. given to resisting authority or another's control

   "the restive horse threw its head and refused to move when the rider urged it forward"

   similar: balky, contrary, contumacious, defiant, disobedient, froward, incompliant, insubordinate, intractable, obstreperous, rebel, rebellious, recalcitrant, recusant, refractory, ungovernable, unruly, untoward, wayward, willful
   related: noncooperative, uncooperative, insurgent, mutinous, adamant, adamantine, dogged, hardheaded, headstrong, immovable, implacable, inflexible, mulish, negativistic, obdurate, obstinate, opinionated, peevish, pertinacious, pigheaded, rigid, self-willed, stubborn, unbending, uncompromising, unrelenting, unyielding, fractious, uncontrollable, unmanageable, wild, perverse, resistant, wrongheaded, bad, disorderly, errant, misbehaving, mischievous, monkeying, monkeyish, naughty, undisciplined, dissident, nonconformist, discourteous, disrespectful, ill-bred, ill-mannered, ill-natured, impertinent, impolite, impudent, inconsiderate, insolent, ornery, rude, uncivil, uncouth, ungracious, unmannerly
   opposite: amenable, biddable, compliant, conformable, docile, obedient, ruly, submissive, tractable
   near: acquiescent, agreeable, amiable, cooperative, deferential, obliging, yielding, behaved, disciplined, well-bred, courteous, polite, respectful, kowtowing, obsequious, servile, slavish, subservient, decorous, mannerly, orderly, proper, controllable, governable, manageable, trainable

2. lacking or denying rest

   "spent a restive night worrying about the next day's exam"

   similar: restless, uneasy, unquiet, unrestful
   related: agitated, distressed, disturbed, perturbed, troubled, unsettled, aflutter, anxious, dithery, edgy, fidgety, het up, hung up, jittery, jumpy, nervous, nervy, tense, upset, uptight, worried
   opposite: restful
   near: calm, easy, peaceful, quiet, relaxing, tranquil