restive

[US]/ˈrestɪv/
[UK]/ˈrestɪv/
Frequency: Very High

Translation

adj. stubborn; difficult to control; uneasy.

Example Sentences

the restless sea.See Usage Note at restive

The atmosphere in the office was congenial, but after five years she began to grow restless (not restive ).

The government has done nothing to ease restrictions and manufacturers are growing restive.

The high-mettled animal that is restive in the yoke only galls his shoulders;

The government has done nothing to ease export restrictions, and domestic manufacturers are growing restive (not restless ).

The restive horse refused to stay still.

The restive crowd grew increasingly agitated.

The restive students were eager for the school day to end.

The restive dog kept barking at the strangers.

The restive employees demanded better working conditions.

The restive child couldn't sit still during the movie.

The restive teenager rebelled against authority.

The restive cat kept pacing back and forth in the room.

The restive protesters clashed with the police.

The restive atmosphere in the classroom made it hard to focus.

Real-world Examples

This is the latest violent incident in the restive northwest region bordering Afghanistan.

Source: VOA Daily Standard January 2023 Collection

NATO soldiers were killed Saturday when a plane crashed in the restive southern Afghanistan.

Source: CRI Online April 2013 Collection

The restaurants in particular are restive, not least because food is already a low-margin business.

Source: The Economist (Summary)

The skirmishes have come days ahead of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the restive region.

Source: CRI Online November 2015 Collection

Prison torture grew more brutal and baroque as rebels outside made advances and government warplanes bombed restive neighborhoods.

Source: New York Times

This afternoon she was peculiarly restive.

Source: The Room with a View (Part 1)

I glanced to my left, where the queue at my section was growing restive.

Source: Still Me (Me Before You #3)

They too were loaded with revolutionary debts calling for heavy taxes upon an already restive population.

Source: American history

And there's talk now in the West Bank where it's restive of, you know, a new intifadah simmering.

Source: "Christian Science Monitor" podcast series

Nevertheless, you need to beware—if you slow the pace down too much, even the most patient reader is apt to grow restive.

Source: Stephen King on Writing

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