restive

res·tive

adj \ˈres-tiv\

Definition of RESTIVE

1

: stubbornly resisting control : balky

2

: marked by impatience or uneasiness : fidgety

— res·tive·ly adverb

— res·tive·ness noun

Examples of RESTIVE

1. <the restive horse threw its head and refused to move when the rider urged it forward>
2. <spent a restive night worrying about the next day's exam>

Origin of RESTIVE

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

First Known Use: 15th century

Related to RESTIVE

Synonyms: balky, contrary, contumacious, defiant, froward, incompliant, insubordinate, intractable, obstreperous, rebel, rebellious, recalcitrant, recusant, refractory, disobedient, ungovernable, unruly, untoward, wayward, willful (or wilful)

Antonyms: amenable, biddable, compliant, conformable, docile, obedient, ruly, submissive, tractable

Related Words: 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, disobedient, 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

Near Antonyms: 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

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See Synonym Discussion at contrary

Rhymes with RESTIVE

festive