uptight

adjective

up·​tight ˈəp-ˈtīt How to pronounce uptight (audio)
(ˌ)əp-ˈtīt
1
a
: being tense, nervous, or uneasy
uptight overachievers
c
: rigidly conventional
an uptight conservative
2
: being in financial difficulties
uptightness noun

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 As Fran talks and talks—not only with Owen but also with her sick sister, Trish (Florencia Lozano), and their other, more uptight sister, Susie (Andrea Syglowski)—it’s hard not to think about how two of Shanley’s lasting interests, on display brilliantly in these plays, fit together. Vinson Cunningham, The New Yorker, 11 Mar. 2024 There’s a reason uptight parents of the ’80s were less than thrilled at the thought of their preteen daughters being wannabes, as Madonna fans were labeled in the media. Ed Masley, The Arizona Republic, 10 Mar. 2024 The Oscar-winning actress, currently starring as an uptight attorney who hires her directionless son in the CBS comedy-drama So Help Me Todd, discusses her parenting style in this week’s issue of PEOPLE. Jp Mangalindan, Peoplemag, 17 Feb. 2024 David, the straight arrow of the two, is played by Eisenberg in a baseball cap as a vintage Jesse character — earnest and uptight, with a compressed delivery that expresses his nervous nature, yet this is no millennial Woody Allen caricature. Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 21 Jan. 2024 Whitehead also had a memorable turn as the uptight school dean in 1986's Back to School, which marked his feature film debut. Ew Staff, EW.com, 16 Oct. 2023 They’re now united by having the same enemy, and spend the core of the film bantering on dry land, with Arthur trying to get a rise out of the uptight Orm. Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 21 Dec. 2023 Their American manners and strong-willed personas brush up against uptight, closeminded royal society. Kalia Richardson, Rolling Stone, 4 Nov. 2023 She’s estranged from her more uptight sister Anne (Awkwafina), but the pair reunite when their mom goes missing despite owing $80,000 in gambling debts. Vulture, 7 Sep. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'uptight.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1934, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of uptight was in 1934

Dictionary Entries Near uptight

Cite this Entry

“Uptight.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/uptight. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

uptight

adjective
up·​tight ˈəp-ˈtīt How to pronounce uptight (audio)
(ˌ)əp-ˈtīt,
ˌəp-ˌtīt
: being tense, nervous, or uneasy

More from Merriam-Webster on uptight

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