Definition of RESTIVE

restive

Meanings

Adjective Satellite

  • being in a tense state
  • impatient especially under restriction or delay
    • "the government has done nothing to ease restrictions and manufacturers are growing restive"

Adj

  • Impatient under delay, duress, or control.
  • Resistant to control; stubborn.
  • Refusing to move, especially in a forward direction.

Origin / Etymology

Modification of earlier restiff, from Middle English restyf, from Old French restif, from rester (“stay, remain”), from Latin restō.
* Shares an etymology with rest ("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.

Synonyms

anxious, balky, champing at the bit, disobedient, edgy, fidgety, high-strung, highly strung, jittery, jumpy, nervy, overstrung, rebellious, recalcitrant, refractory, restless, uncooperative, uneasy, unruly, uptight

Scrabble Score: 10

restive is a valid Scrabble (US) TWL word
restive is a valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
restive is a valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 11

restive is a valid Words With Friends word