Antonyms for restive

Grammar : Adj

Spell : res-tiv

Phonetic Transcription : ˈrɛs tɪv

Definition of restive

Origin : early 15c., restyffe "not moving forward," from Middle French restif "motionless, brought to a standstill" (Modern French rétif), from rester "to remain" (see rest (n.2)). Sense of "unmanageable" (1680s) evolved via notion of a horse refusing to go forward.

adj impatient, nervous

Example sentences :

The horse was restive, looking over its shoulder at him, not liking what was going on.
Extract from : « In the Midst of Alarms » by Robert Barr

Under all these restrictions the colonies were not as yet restive.
Extract from : « The Siege of Boston » by Allen French

Many of them are nervous and restive, and not easily approached.
Extract from : « Cattle and Their Diseases » by Robert Jennings

Underneath it every horse was restive and every voice had an edge.
Extract from : « The Long Roll » by Mary Johnston

He dropped from the omnibus at the park entrance, where he found his restive mare.
Extract from : « The Lure of the Mask » by Harold MacGrath

But sometimes, as now, she was restive under his too close scrutiny.
Extract from : « Quin » by Alice Hegan Rice

"All right," she answered, for she had now quieted the restive horses.
Extract from : « The Moving Picture Girls in War Plays » by Laura Lee Hope

It did not succeed because human nature was contrary and restive.
Extract from : « A Preface to Politics » by Walter Lippmann

It was the girl who spoke and she addressed her restive horse in English.
Extract from : « The Book of All-Power » by Edgar Wallace

But not yet: your poor brother-in-law is restive, like many weak men.
Extract from : « The Wolves and the Lamb » by William Makepeace Thackeray

Synonyms for restive

Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019