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

While living in New York City, Naina, a young uptight student living with her widowed mother, disabled brother and hostile grandmother, struggles with her own unhappiness. —Travis Bean, Forbes, 28 Sep. 2024

The View cohosts think select NFL fans are too uptight over the recent underperformance of the Kansas City Chiefs' star tight end. —EW.com, 24 Sep. 2024

Released in 2003 to a worldwide gross of over $160M, Freaky Friday revolves around Tess Coleman (Curtis), a single mother and uptight psychiatrist, and her rebellious teenage daughter, Anna (Lohan). —Matt Grobar, Deadline, 14 June 2024

Geraldine Viswanathan is her uptight bestie, Marian, who works an office job, reads Henry James, and hasn’t been with anyone since the end of her last relationship, which was years ago. —Alison Willmore, Vulture, 12 Apr. 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