RESTLESSNESS Synonyms: 90 Similar and Opposite Words

restlessness

noun

Definition of restlessness

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in boredom

the state of being bored she began to pick at the grass near her hammock out of sheer restlessness

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of restlessness Cheng told Hackensack Meridian Health that drinking caffeine during this window can temporarily raise cortisol even further, potentially contributing to feelings of anxiety or restlessness. — Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 15 Oct. 2026 Pouring caffeine on top of that peak can push cortisol even higher, which Cheng said may contribute to anxiety and restlessness. — Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 15 Oct. 2026 With both of these planets transiting Air signs, there is a cerebral side to this alignment, presenting the opportunity to channel feelings of restlessness into something resourceful. — Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 25 Sep. 2026 Other common sleep issues that don’t affect the airways include movement disorders that cause nighttime restlessness or narcolepsy, a neurological disorder that affects the body’s sleep-wake cycles and causes excessive sleepiness. — Samantha Agate, Sacbee.com, 24 Sep. 2026 Luengo became part of that process, helping to build a character who exists caught between her restlessness and her responsibility. — Callum McLennan, Variety, 24 Sep. 2026 For barking or mild restlessness, though, a robot that recognizes what your dog is doing and responds at the right time could be a useful extra set of eyes at home. — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 22 Sep. 2026 For some people, consuming too much caffeine can cause symptoms such as nervousness, restlessness, headaches, and difficulty sleeping. — Merve Ceylan, HEALTH, 9 Sep. 2026 Anwar Hussein There was a restlessness to Diana’s movements in those summer months. — Allie Merriam, Vanity Fair, 1 Sep. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for restlessness

Noun

Throughout that year, as Israelis poured into the streets to protest Netanyahu's far-right government and its plan to weaken the judiciary, Netanyahu's security chiefs warned that regional enemies could take advantage of the turmoil to attack.

— Daniel Estrin, NPR, 25 Oct. 2026
France, whose 10-year bond yield touched 5% last week for the first time since 2002, got a reprieve from recent turmoil after Moody’s decided to maintain its Aa3 credit rating and negative outlook on the nation.

— Ananya Chetia,Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 25 Oct. 2026

Definition of turmoil

Noun

Cooke samples an absorbing range of hoaxes, from the college students who convinced the world that an imaginary Scotsman had invented the electric toaster to the Chinese housewife who fabricated an entire war out of boredom.

— Julian Lucas, New Yorker, 21 Oct. 2026
And from that boredom, a different kind of will, the willfulness that accompanies a need to destroy that happiness.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of boredom

Noun

The unrest culminated in rioting and looting over the weekend, with officials estimating that the damages could be worth hundreds of millions of euros.

— Chloe Taylor, CNBC, 21 Oct. 2026
France has had two consecutive quiet nights since the weekend’s unrest.

— Samuel Petrequin, Los Angeles Times, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of unrest

Browse Nearby Words

restless

restlessness

restoral

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“Restlessness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/restlessness. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of restlessness

noun

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