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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of uptight
The protagonist, Nora Stephens, is a New York literary agent, and the antagonist, if that’s the correct word for the character who is clearly going to become the love interest, is an uptight book editor.
—
Susan Coll
september 12, Literary Hub, 12 Sep. 2025
Predictably, the hubbub surrounding the photo was eventually framed as a war between uptight virgins and godless heathens, with a quieter contingent astounded only by the fact that this kind of marketing could still be so effective.
—Amanda Petrusich, New Yorker, 2 Sep. 2025
The more uptight Theo gets, the looser Benedict’s performance appears, and his facility for physical comedy gets a workout.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 27 Aug. 2025
Lord Doyle’s being pursued by an uptight watchdog (Tilda Swinton) sent by those holding the bag on his considerable debts, and his salvation may come from a mysterious ghostly gorgeous benefactor (Fala Chen) who stakes Doyle when no one else will.
—Mike Fleming Jr, Deadline, 21 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for uptight
Susan Coll
september 12, Literary Hub, 12 Sep. 2025
Predictably, the hubbub surrounding the photo was eventually framed as a war between uptight virgins and godless heathens, with a quieter contingent astounded only by the fact that this kind of marketing could still be so effective.
—Amanda Petrusich, New Yorker, 2 Sep. 2025
The more uptight Theo gets, the looser Benedict’s performance appears, and his facility for physical comedy gets a workout.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 27 Aug. 2025
Lord Doyle’s being pursued by an uptight watchdog (Tilda Swinton) sent by those holding the bag on his considerable debts, and his salvation may come from a mysterious ghostly gorgeous benefactor (Fala Chen) who stakes Doyle when no one else will.
—Mike Fleming Jr, Deadline, 21 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for uptight
Recent Examples of Synonyms for uptight
Adjective
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In response, the White House is planning to adjust its messaging strategy to focus on affordability to try to win over voters who are worried about the high cost of living with plans to emphasize new tax breaks and show progress on fighting inflation.—
Michelle L. Price,
Fortune,
9 Nov. 2025
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Are Americans worried about inflation just wrong?—
ABC News,
ABC News,
9 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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In 2024, Mark looked nervous watching Grace compete in a horse show.—
Madison E. Goldberg,
PEOPLE,
6 Nov. 2025
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Senior dogs, puppies, or nervous rescues may require specialized care.—
Maria Williams,
USA Today,
6 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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Mamdani's win was seen as an upset to the establishment, since the 67-year-old Cuomo is the son of a three-time New York governor and held the position himself for a decade beginning in 2011.—
Rachel Treisman,
NPR,
5 Nov. 2025
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Boise State fans could have been upset when they were upset at home by Fresno State as their season continued to slide away from them.—
Kyle Feldscher,
CNN Money,
5 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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The self-laceration is done on Damon Albarn Time, though, as Idles’ usual anxious guitar rave-ups are slowed and stripped here to a skipping, reggae-ish crawl, as synths squeak in the background and Albarn offers support via his forever-distant, disembodied backing vocals.—
Andrew Unterberger,
Billboard,
7 Nov. 2025
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Obviously, Meghan’s anxious about it.—
Lizzie Lanuza,
StyleCaster,
7 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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Rather than offering peace of mind from pest invasion, the chemical control process often leaves families feeling uneasy about what has been introduced so indiscriminately into their environment.—
Malana VanTyler,
USA Today,
6 Nov. 2025
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Cuomo led early polls, buoyed by name recognition and a coalition of moderate Democrats uneasy with the party’s leftward drift.—
Nik Popli,
Time,
5 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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At first glance, Grace resembles the type of mothers who have become a dominant cinematic presence in recent years—women portrayed as troubled about being a caregiver.—
Shirley Li,
The Atlantic,
6 Nov. 2025
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The film follows seventeen-year-old Katie Thompson, a troubled teen spiralling after the tragic death of her younger brother – a loss that has left her not only emotionally scarred but also cursed with a disturbing ability to glimpse the world beyond the living.—
Zac Ntim,
Deadline,
6 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Uptight.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/uptight. Accessed 1 Dec. 2025.
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