restless
Needing to move
Restless describes an inability to be still or at ease.
A restless sleeper tosses and turns.
A restless crowd grows impatient.
The word suggests both physical movement and mental unease—you might have a restless night because of restless thoughts.
Someone with a restless spirit is never satisfied staying in one place or situation: After three years in the job, she grew restless.
Troubled, not calm
- nervousUneasy and apprehensive
- edgyTense and irritable
- apprehensiveFearful of future events
- worriedTroubled by uncertainty
unsettled · troubled · tense · on edge · agitated · stressed · overwrought · fretful
Restless minor movements
- squirmingTwisting restlessly from discomfort
- twitchingInvoluntary muscular contractions
- shiftingChanging position or form
- wigglingMoving with small twists
jiggling · tapping · fiddling · antsy · jittery · twitchy · restive · squirmy
Persistent inability to rest
- wakefulUnable to slumber
- tossing and turningInability to sleep peacefully
- sleep-deprivedLacking adequate rest
- insomniacPerson who cannot sleep
fitful · tosses · thrashing · night owl · wakefulness · light sleeper · broken sleep · sleeplessness
Moving without fixed purpose
- nomadicWithout fixed residence
- itinerantMoving for work
- unsettledNot yet resolved
- driftingMoving without purpose
rootless · wayward · roving · vagabond · peripatetic · wanderlust · migratory · transient
Intensely wanting something
- itchingIrritating skin sensation
- yearningIntense prolonged craving
- chafingIrritation from friction
- antsyRestlessly eager or nervous
frustrated · pining · desperate · hasty · raring to go · impatience · straining · keen
Active and changing
- livelyAnimated and energetic
- animatedFull of life, or drawn moving
- bustlingFull of energetic activity
- vigorousHaving great physical energy
spirited · kinetic · energetic · vivacious · high-strung · irrepressible · bouncy · effervescent
Not prompted into action
- disengagedNot participating or invested
- daydreamingIdle mental wandering
- inattentiveNot paying attention
- uninterestedLacking curiosity or concern
doodling · sighing · distracted · listless · yawning · tuned out · clock-watching · glazed over
uneasy
Troubled, not calm
- nervousUneasy and apprehensive
- edgyTense and irritable
- apprehensiveFearful of future events
worried · unsettled · troubled · tense · on edge · agitated · stressed · overwrought · fretful · perturbed
fidgeting
Restless minor movements
- squirmingTwisting restlessly from discomfort
- twitchingInvoluntary muscular contractions
- shiftingChanging position or form
wiggling · jiggling · tapping · fiddling · antsy · jittery · twitchy · restive · squirmy · wriggling
insomnia
Persistent inability to rest
- wakefulUnable to slumber
- tossing and turningInability to sleep peacefully
- sleep-deprivedLacking adequate rest
insomniac · fitful · tosses · thrashing · night owl · wakefulness · light sleeper · broken sleep · sleeplessness
roaming
Moving without fixed purpose
drifting · rootless · wayward · roving · vagabond · peripatetic · wanderlust · migratory · transient · footloose
eager
Intensely wanting something
antsy · frustrated · pining · desperate · hasty · raring to go · impatience · straining · keen · irritable
dynamic
Active and changing
vigorous · spirited · kinetic · energetic · vivacious · high-strung · irrepressible · bouncy · effervescent · tireless
unstimulated
Not prompted into action
- disengagedNot participating or invested
- daydreamingIdle mental wandering
- inattentiveNot paying attention
uninterested · doodling · sighing · distracted · listless · yawning · tuned out · clock-watching · glazed over · unfocused
- movementwalk, move, go, run, jump
- stress signspanic, anxiety, worry, tension, burnout
- traitshonesty, ambitious, brave, calm, kindness
- hyperactivityfidgeting, hyper, fidgety, impulsivity, antsy
- energy levelsenergetic, energized, hyped, exhausted, fatigued
- reactivereactive, excitable, volatile, high-strung, jumpy
restlessstill
Unmoving, or continuing
motionless · stationary · immobile · immovable · fixed
- restless sleepDisturbed, broken slumber
- restless night
- restless spirit
- restless mindConstantly churning thoughts
- restless legsCompulsion to move extremities
- restless heart