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

Some people are really uptight but Marty was just so easy to talk to. —Jean E. Palmieri, WWD, 3 Dec. 2024

As the uptight and upright body guard, Costner is well-cast, plowing straight ahead with all his character’s ticks and warts. —Duane Byrge, The Hollywood Reporter, 25 Nov. 2024

This is a daunting role — that of an uptight lawyer confronting his own homophobia while defending a gay man (Tom Hanks) — but Washington does a fine job transforming the character from a life-lesson surrogate for the audience into a person with actual dimensions. —Tim Grierson, Vulture, 24 Nov. 2024

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

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