uptight

adjective

up·​tight ˈəp-ˈtīt 

(ˌ)əp-ˈtīt

1

a

: being tense, nervous, or uneasy

uptight overachievers

b

: angry, indignant

getting uptight over little things

c

: rigidly conventional

an uptight conservative

2

: being in financial difficulties

uptightness

(ˌ)əp-ˈtīt-nəs 

noun

Synonyms of uptight

• worried
• nervous
• upset
• anxious
• uneasy
• troubled

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

Dabbling in this culinary staple is an antidote to uptight, disciplined design. —Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 29 May 2026

Monochromatic racks of product are matched by the store’s unsatisfied and underpaid employees, including a glam goth sales associate turned labor organizer, Violeta, played by Eiza Gonzalez and a hilariously uptight store manager Grayson, portrayed by Will Poulter. —Bianca Betancourt, CNN Money, 22 May 2026

So says Leslie Fremar, outing herself as the real-life inspiration for Emily, the uptight first assistant to fictional magazine editor Miranda Priestly. —Assistant Editor, Los Angeles Times, 30 Apr. 2026

The uptight, very serious good boy-captain. —ABC News, 22 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1934, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for uptight

• affright
• airtight
• albite
• alight
• alright
• aplite
• aright
• bainite
• birthright
• bobwhite
• bornite
• bullfight

Kids Definition

uptight

adjective

up·​tight ˈəp-ˈtīt 

(ˌ)əp-ˈtīt, 

ˌəp-ˌtīt

: being tense, nervous, or uneasy