as in worried
feeling or showing uncomfortable feelings of uncertainty
he has a tendency to fret and get uptight whenever his usual routine is disrupted
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 uptight
The first sizzling sapphic romance from bestseller Guillory follows the uptight Avery who's exploring her attraction to women for the first time.
—
Lizz Schumer, People.com, 27 Dec. 2024
Jesse Eisenberg — who wrote, directed, and stars opposite Culkin — is the ostensible protagonist David, Benji’s uptight, socially awkward cousin who envies and pities him in equal measure, but A Real Pain is Culkin’s showcase.
—Rachel Handler, Vulture, 22 Oct. 2024
Though Bowen Yang and Ego Nwodim’s TSA security guards played hosts of the pageant, Short also appeared as the uptight Delta Lounge employee, preventing figures such as Rudd from entering.
—Harrison Richlin, IndieWire, 22 Dec. 2024
Her ex-husband and current bestie, Mark (Joe Piazza), is planning a Christmas wedding to an uptight fiancé who may demote Jane from BFF status.
—Melissa Kravitz Hoeffner, Vulture, 12 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for uptight 
Lizz Schumer, People.com, 27 Dec. 2024
Jesse Eisenberg — who wrote, directed, and stars opposite Culkin — is the ostensible protagonist David, Benji’s uptight, socially awkward cousin who envies and pities him in equal measure, but A Real Pain is Culkin’s showcase.
—Rachel Handler, Vulture, 22 Oct. 2024
Though Bowen Yang and Ego Nwodim’s TSA security guards played hosts of the pageant, Short also appeared as the uptight Delta Lounge employee, preventing figures such as Rudd from entering.
—Harrison Richlin, IndieWire, 22 Dec. 2024
Her ex-husband and current bestie, Mark (Joe Piazza), is planning a Christmas wedding to an uptight fiancé who may demote Jane from BFF status.
—Melissa Kravitz Hoeffner, Vulture, 12 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for uptight
Recent Examples of Synonyms for uptight
Adjective
-
With the recent temporary suspensions on research grant reviews and payments for researchers and talk of mass layoffs and budget cuts at the National Science Foundation, scientists are already worried about how science funding will be affected.—
Ars Technica,
Ars Technica,
18 Feb. 2025
-
That’s a lot of CO2, something airlines are increasingly worried about.—
Jackie Snow,
Quartz,
18 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
Atop all this, Floria is charged with supervising nervous, error-prone student nurse Amelie (Selma) — tempers fray as precious time runs out.—
Guy Lodge,
Variety,
17 Feb. 2025
-
In the final round, a nervous Castle missed his first four dunk attempts for his first dunk of the round, before finishing with pizzaz on a between-the-legs up-and-under one-handed flush.—
Josh Hammer,
Newsweek,
16 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
Barring an upset by a very capable Fremont-Oakland team, the two juggernauts from Alameda County’s biggest city should once again duke it out in the postseason.—
Joseph Dycus,
The Mercury News,
13 Feb. 2025
-
That’s not a 50-50 ball; that’s a 33.3-66.6 ball, and Xavier Worthy pulled the upset.—
Steven Louis Goldstein,
The Athletic,
13 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
Socially anxious and snobby, Victoria is dedicated to keeping her three children on the same affluent life path she's followed.—
Bryan Alexander,
USA TODAY,
18 Feb. 2025
-
That is a disconcerting, even chilling prospect for sources in the news division, who see the legendary house of Murrow and Cronkite caught in the middle as controlling Paramount Global shareholder Shari Redstone is anxious to close the transaction.—
Ted Johnson,
Deadline,
17 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
Bochner began working in the wake of Abstract Expressionism, whose emphasis on artistic genius, painterly excellence, and formalism left many of his generation feeling uneasy.—
Alex Greenberger,
ARTnews.com,
14 Feb. 2025
-
This has posed a problem for the Kremlin, which does not want to be seen clamping down on those who are essentially patriots but may be uneasy with warts-and-all accounts of Russian battlefield setbacks.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
Newsweek,
12 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
Israel’s Economic Plight With the signing of the Egyptian-Israeli agreement, the focus in the troubled Middle East has turned to the West Bank, and negotiation of a wider peace settlement.—
Ann Crittenden,
Foreign Affairs,
11 Feb. 2025
-
The filing is known in Italy as a CNC, and offers troubled companies the time and space to restructure and chart a path forward.—
Luisa Zargani,
WWD,
11 Feb. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near uptight
Cite this Entry
“Uptight.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/uptight. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share