Definition of: restive

(res′tiv) adjective
1. Impatient of control; unruly.
2. Restless; fidgety; also, stubborn; balky. [<F restif <rester remain, balk <L restare. See REST².]
—res′tive·ly adverb
—res′·tive·ness noun Synonyms: fidgety, fractious, fretful, frisky, impatient, intractable, mutinous, rebellious, refractory, restless, skittish, unruly, vicious. The disposition to offer active resistance to control by any means whatever is what is commonly indicated by restive. 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, peaceable, quiet, submissive, tractable, yielding.