uptight

adjective

up·​tight ˈəp-ˈtīt 

(ˌ)əp-ˈtīt

1

a

: being tense, nervous, or uneasy

uptight overachievers

b

: angry, indignant

c

: rigidly conventional

an uptight conservative

2

: being in financial difficulties

uptightness

(ˌ)əp-ˈtīt-nəs 

noun

Synonyms

• aflutter
• antsy
• anxious
• atwitter
• dithery
• edgy
• goosey
• het up
• hinky [slang]
• hung up
• ill at ease
• insecure
• jittery
• jumpy
• nervous
• nervy
• perturbed
• queasy
• queazy
• tense
• troubled
• uneasy
• unquiet
• upset
• worried

Examples of uptight in a Sentence

If our flight is delayed, there's nothing we can do. There's no reason to get so uptight about it.

I don't know why people are so uptight about sex.

Recent Examples on the Web

Eisenberg, who co-stars here with Kieran Culkin, wrote himself a role that suits him ever so well, playing the by-the-book, uptight David, a married man with a reliable job and a reliable life. —Randy Myers, The Mercury News, 13 Nov. 2024

But Reba is her usual sitcom-esque spitfire self: sharp, uptight, on her game, and loaded with zingers. —Marc Berman, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024

In addition to surprising the audience by showing no trace of the bitter, uptight woman she was made out to be, Stewart happened to be seated next to Snoop Dogg—and the two more than hit it off. —Lilah Ramzi, Vogue, 30 Oct. 2024

Jeb Bush being Hispanic Nine years ago, the American political landscape was very different, inasmuch as there were Republican presidential candidates who were normal and boring in the way that an exhausted, uptight high school principal who hates dancing might be. —Jp Brammer, Los Angeles Times, 30 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1934, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

uptight

adjective

up·​tight ˈəp-ˈtīt 

(ˌ)əp-ˈtīt,

ˌəp-ˌtīt

: being tense, nervous, or uneasy