'Restive' definitions:
Definition of 'restive'
From: WordNet
adjective
Being in a tense state [syn: edgy, high-strung, highly strung, jittery, jumpy, nervy, overstrung, restive, uptight]
adjective
Impatient especially under restriction or delay; "the government has done nothing to ease restrictions and manufacturers are growing restive"
Definition of 'Restive'
From: GCIDE
- Restive \Rest"ive\ (r?st"?v), a. [OF. restif, F. r['e]tif, fr. L. restare to stay back, withstand, resist. See Rest remainder, and cf. Restiff.] . Unwilling to go on; obstinate in refusing to move forward; stubborn; drawing back. [1913 Webster]
- Restive or resty, drawing back, instead of going forward, as some horses do. --E. Philips (1658). [1913 Webster]
- The people remarked with awe and wonder that the beasts which were to drag him [Abraham Holmes] to the gallows became restive, and went back. --Macaulay. [1913 Webster]
- 2. Inactive; sluggish. [Obs.] --Sir T. Browne. [1913 Webster]
- 3. Impatient under coercion, chastisement, or opposition; refractory. [1913 Webster]
- 4. Uneasy; restless; averse to standing still; fidgeting about; -- applied especially to horses. --Trench. [1913 Webster] -- {Rest"ive}, adv. -- {Rest"ive*ness}, n. [1913 Webster]
Definition of 'Restive'
From: GCIDE
- Restive \Rest"ive\ (r?st"?v), a. [OF. restif, F. r['e]tif, fr. L. restare to stay back, withstand, resist. See Rest remainder, and cf. Restiff.] . Unwilling to go on; obstinate in refusing to move forward; stubborn; drawing back. [1913 Webster]
- Restive or resty, drawing back, instead of going forward, as some horses do. --E. Philips (1658). [1913 Webster]
- The people remarked with awe and wonder that the beasts which were to drag him [Abraham Holmes] to the gallows became restive, and went back. --Macaulay. [1913 Webster]
- 2. Inactive; sluggish. [Obs.] --Sir T. Browne. [1913 Webster]
- 3. Impatient under coercion, chastisement, or opposition; refractory. [1913 Webster]
- 4. Uneasy; restless; averse to standing still; fidgeting about; -- applied especially to horses. --Trench. [1913 Webster] -- {Rest"ive}, adv. -- {Rest"ive*ness}, n. [1913 Webster]
Synonyms of 'restive'
From: Moby Thesaurus
- antsy,
- antsy-pantsy,
- anxious,
- apathetic,
- backward,
- balking,
- balky,
- beefing,
- bellyaching,
- beyond control,
- bigoted,
- bitching,
- breachy,
- breathless,
- bulldogged,
- bulletheaded,
- bullheaded,
- case-hardened,
- chafing,
- complaining,
- complaintful,
- contumacious,
- crabbing,
- crabby,
- cranky,
- croaking,
- cross-grained,
- defiant,
- dilatory,
- disappointed,
- discontented,
- disgruntled,
- displeased,
- dissatisfied,
- dogged,
- dogmatic,
- eager,
- edgy,
- envious,
- excited,
- fanatic,
- faultfinding,
- fidgety,
- fluttery,
- fractious,
- fretful,
- fretting,
- froward,
- fussy,
- griping,
- grouchy,
- grousing,
- growling,
- grudging,
- grumbling,
- hardheaded,
- hasty,
- headstrong,
- hopped-up,
- impatient,
- impatient of control,
- impetuous,
- in a lather,
- in a stew,
- in a sweat,
- incorrigible,
- indifferent,
- indocile,
- indomitable,
- insuppressible,
- intolerant,
- intractable,
- irrepressible,
- laggard,
- loath,
- malcontent,
- malcontented,
- mulish,
- murmuring,
- muttering,
- nervy,
- obstinate,
- obstreperous,
- on edge,
- opinionated,
- ornery,
- out of hand,
- out of humor,
- overzealous,
- peevish,
- perfunctory,
- persevering,
- pertinacious,
- perverse,
- petulant,
- pigheaded,
- querulant,
- querulous,
- rebellious,
- recalcitrant,
- refractory,
- reluctant,
- renitent,
- resentful,
- resistant,
- resisting,
- restless,
- self-willed,
- set,
- shrewish,
- slow,
- slow to,
- squirming,
- squirmy,
- stiff-necked,
- strong-willed,
- strongheaded,
- stubborn,
- sulky,
- sullen,
- tenacious,
- tense,
- unaccepting,
- unaccommodating,
- unbiddable,
- uncontrollable,
- uncooperative,
- uneasy,
- unenthusiastic,
- unfulfilled,
- ungovernable,
- ungratified,
- unhappy,
- unmalleable,
- unmanageable,
- unmoldable,
- unpatient,
- unquiet,
- unregenerate,
- unrestful,
- unruly,
- unsatisfied,
- unsettled,
- unsubmissive,
- unzealous,
- uptight,
- wayward,
- whiny,
- wild,
- willful,
- wrongheaded