Antonyms for restive
ˈrɛs tɪvrestive

WiktionaryRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. restiveadjective

   Resistant of control; stubborn.

   Synonyms:
   unruly, recalcitrant, uncooperative, disobedient, refractory

2. restiveadjective

   Refusing to move, especially in a forward direction.

   Synonyms:
   balky

3. restiveadjective

   Synonyms:
   fidgety, champing at the bit, restless, anxious, uneasy

English Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. restive

   Balky, mulish, obstinate, and stubborn are synonyms of restive only in an infrequent if not obsolete use; the supposed sense of "tending to rest," "standing stubbornly still," is scarcely supported by any examples, and those cited to support that meaning often fail to do so. The disposition to offer active resistance to control by any means whatever is what is commonly indicated by restive in the best English speech and literature. Dryden speaks of "the pampered colt" as "restiff to the rein;" but the rein is not used to propel a horse forward, but to hold him in, and it is against this that he is "restiff." A horse may be made restless by flies or by martial music, but with no refractoriness; the restive animal impatiently resists or struggles to break from control, as by bolting, flinging his rider, or otherwise. With this the metaphorical use of the word agrees, which is always in the sense of such terms as impatient, intractable, rebellious, and the like; a people restive under despotism are not disposed to "rest" under it, but to resist it and fling it off.

   Antonyms:
   docile, gentle, manageable, obedient, passive, peaceable, quiet, submissive, tractable, yielding

   Synonyms:
   balky, fidgety, fractious, fretful, frisky, impatient, intractable, mulish, mutinous, obstinate, rebellious, recalcitrant, refractory, resentful, restiff, restless, skittish, stubborn, unruly, vicious

Complete Dictionary of Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. restive

   Antonyms:
   docile, manageable, tractable

   Synonyms:
   stubborn, obstinate, uneasy, balky, recalcitrant

Princeton's WordNetRate these antonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. edgy, high-strung, highly strung, jittery, jumpy, nervy, overstrung, restive, uptightadjective

   being in a tense state

   Antonyms:
   patient, relaxed

   Synonyms:
   cheeky, rocky, highly strung, jolting, rough, bumpy, nervy, uptight, edgy, high-strung, jittery, jumpy, overstrung, jolty, brash

2. restiveadjective

   impatient especially under restriction or delay

   "the government has done nothing to ease restrictions and manufacturers are growing restive"

   Antonyms:
   relaxed, patient

   Synonyms:
   highly strung, nervy, uptight, edgy, high-strung, jittery, jumpy, overstrung

Synonyms, Antonyms & Associated WordsRate these synonyms:4.0 / 1 vote

1. restiveadjective

   Synonyms:
   restless, impatient, fidgety, intractable, uneasy, fractious, rebellious

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