1
as in turmoil
a disturbed or uneasy state
the restlessness of the crowd was apparent as it waited to learn whether the football player was seriously injured
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in boredom
the state of being bored
she began to pick at the grass near her hammock out of sheer restlessness
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of restlessness
Some signs of withdrawal from kratom might include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, muscle/joint aches, restlessness, runny nose, excessive yawning, and hot or cold flashes.
—
Gary Kirkilas Ii, Boston Herald, 1 Feb. 2026
The exercise of power, not surprisingly, contributed to the restlessness of a busy mind that waged battles against a committed opposition.
—Literary Hub, 29 Jan. 2026
Even in his stillest moments, Reilly hums with the restlessness of a jazz explorer.
—Brad Shoup, Pitchfork, 24 Jan. 2026
And that signal often shows up as restlessness or longing.
—Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 22 Jan. 2026
The kid who couldn’t stop building That restlessness goes back decades.
—Wyles Daniel, USA Today, 19 Jan. 2026
There were still fights to fight and Perfidia’s restlessness and struggles adjusting to motherhood led her to leave.
—Lindsey Underwood, Vanity Fair, 13 Jan. 2026
Bowie’s genius was a driver and a result of an unquenchable inner restlessness.
—Armin Rosen, The Washington Examiner, 9 Jan. 2026
This is because of the productive restlessness that Safdie fosters in his colleagues, many of whom have been at his side for decades, and, of course, the spirit of his wildly original new character.
—David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 7 Jan. 2026
Gary Kirkilas Ii, Boston Herald, 1 Feb. 2026
The exercise of power, not surprisingly, contributed to the restlessness of a busy mind that waged battles against a committed opposition.
—Literary Hub, 29 Jan. 2026
Even in his stillest moments, Reilly hums with the restlessness of a jazz explorer.
—Brad Shoup, Pitchfork, 24 Jan. 2026
And that signal often shows up as restlessness or longing.
—Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 22 Jan. 2026
The kid who couldn’t stop building That restlessness goes back decades.
—Wyles Daniel, USA Today, 19 Jan. 2026
There were still fights to fight and Perfidia’s restlessness and struggles adjusting to motherhood led her to leave.
—Lindsey Underwood, Vanity Fair, 13 Jan. 2026
Bowie’s genius was a driver and a result of an unquenchable inner restlessness.
—Armin Rosen, The Washington Examiner, 9 Jan. 2026
This is because of the productive restlessness that Safdie fosters in his colleagues, many of whom have been at his side for decades, and, of course, the spirit of his wildly original new character.
—David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 7 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for restlessness
Noun
-
According to the official readouts, Xi and Putin appeared to be projecting a strong united front, with Moscow calling bilateral relations an important stabilizing factor at a time of growing global turmoil.—
Anniek Bao,
CNBC,
5 Feb. 2026
-
Gold prices climbed after major central banks added to their reserves and investors rushed to buy the traditional safe-haven asset amid global political turmoil.—
Hanna Ziady,
CNN Money,
5 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
There’s a timeless feeling of childhood in the unstructured fluidity of their day, teetering on the border of dreaminess and boredom, its possibilities both expanded and limited by the boys’ imagination.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
6 Feb. 2026
-
The Benevolent Knights of the Raccoon, the group responsible for Armadillo Day, traced their origins to beer, boredom and Texas heritage.—
Ana Gutierrez,
Austin American Statesman,
3 Feb. 2026
Noun
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But as unrest over immigration enforcement ramps up, Arizona activists face both opportunities and challenges.—
Taylor Seely,
AZCentral.com,
10 Feb. 2026
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Last November, a court in Dhaka sentenced Hasina to death in absentia for her role in the unrest, in which the UN human rights office estimates around 1,400 people were killed.—
Rhea Mogul,
CNN Money,
10 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Though youth turnout is typically low in Japan, Takaichi’s rise has injected rare excitement into a demographic long disenchanted with national politics.—
Hanako Montgomery,
CNN Money,
6 Feb. 2026
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But not everyone shares excitement over the success sequence — which may come across as innocuous advice, but detractors say is built upon dubious data, overlooks racial disparities and shames students who are raised in single-parent households.—
Elizabeth Chuck,
NBC news,
5 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Restlessness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/restlessness. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
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