restive
English · Thesaurus
AI In plain words
Writing a short explanation…
Written by a house AI from the entry below, in your language. The entry itself is the source.
restive
- /ˈɹɛstɪv/
Rhymes with -ɛstɪv
Where it comes from
Modification of earlier restiff, from Middle English restyf, from Old French restif, from rester (“to stay, remain”), from Latin restō.
* Shares an etymology with rest ("to remain," obsolete)
*Merriam-Webster states that this word was originally used to describe horses that disobeyed commands. Presumably, then, the word came to mean fidgety or anxious more broadly.
adjective more restive · most restive
-
Impatient under delay, duress, or control.
The horses were now more restive than ever, and Johann was trying to hold them in.
Similar: anxious, champing at the bit, fidgety, restless, uneasy
-
Resistant to control; stubborn.
Yet I am of Opinion, this Defect ariſeth chiefly from a perverſe, reſtive Diſpoſition. For they are cunning, malicious, treacherous and revengeful.
Similar: disobedient, rebellious, recalcitrant, refractory, uncooperative, unruly
-
Refusing to move, especially in a forward direction.
Similar: balky
Translations
Every language
adj impatient, under delay, duress, or control.
| Español | impaciente |
|---|---|
| العربية | مُتَمَلْمِل mutamalmil |
adj resistant of control; stubborn
| Español | terco, recalcitrante |
|---|---|
| Français | rétif |
| Deutsch | störrisch |
| العربية | جَامِح jāmiḥ |
adj refusing to move, especially in a forward direction
| Français | rétif |
|---|
Talk about this word "restive." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/restive. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. restive. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/restive "restive." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/restive.Cite this
@misc{restive_2026,
title = {restive},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/restive},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
