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
As fun and wild as Sean and Christian’s lives get, the most charming part about this series is the bizarro-world Odd Couple relationship between Sean, the more uptight family-ish man, and Christian, who is … neither of those things.
—
Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 21 Apr. 2025
Emily Gilmore uptight is still funny, but Emily Gilmore letting loose is a real sight.
—Marianne Eloise, Vulture, 10 May 2025
The Oscars are your beloved but slightly uptight grandma; the Golden Globes are your fun cousin who sometimes gets a little too sloppy at parties, and the SAG Awards are your cool young aunt who knows how to have a good time but always keeps it classy.
—Kristen Baldwin, EW.com, 24 Feb. 2025
The premise: Jim (Will Ferrell) is a goofy widowed dad whose daughter Jenni (Geraldine Viswanathan) has gotten engaged; Margot (Reese Witherspoon) is an uptight businesswoman whose younger sister Neve (Meredith Hagner) has gotten engaged.
—Moira MacDonald / Seattle Times, Twin Cities, 5 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for uptight
Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 21 Apr. 2025
Emily Gilmore uptight is still funny, but Emily Gilmore letting loose is a real sight.
—Marianne Eloise, Vulture, 10 May 2025
The Oscars are your beloved but slightly uptight grandma; the Golden Globes are your fun cousin who sometimes gets a little too sloppy at parties, and the SAG Awards are your cool young aunt who knows how to have a good time but always keeps it classy.
—Kristen Baldwin, EW.com, 24 Feb. 2025
The premise: Jim (Will Ferrell) is a goofy widowed dad whose daughter Jenni (Geraldine Viswanathan) has gotten engaged; Margot (Reese Witherspoon) is an uptight businesswoman whose younger sister Neve (Meredith Hagner) has gotten engaged.
—Moira MacDonald / Seattle Times, Twin Cities, 5 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for uptight
Recent Examples of Synonyms for uptight
Adjective
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And although several college refs are famous and infamous within certain fan bases and leagues, college leaders are worried about backlash toward officials going any further.—
Chris Vannini,
New York Times,
18 June 2025
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This is perhaps the most important reason everyone should be so worried about the Republicans’ Big Beautiful Bill.—
Paul Weinstein Jr,
Forbes.com,
18 June 2025
Adjective
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After a decade of mayhem, property destruction, and nervous soldiers firing into a crowd, the rebellion broke into gunfire between British regulars and American militia at Lexington and Concord on April 19, 1775.—
Dan McLaughlin,
National Review,
17 June 2025
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Around liberal America, these were the questions asked with a nervous laugh at dinner parties, in office small talk, on university campuses.—
Carlo Versano,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 June 2025
Adjective
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The heated encounter occurred outside a building, as Hannah-Kim appeared visibly upset about the situation and wanted an explanation for Kove’s actions.—
Stephanie Giang-Paunon,
FOXNews.com,
26 June 2025
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In what many pundits considered an upset, Tordillos eventually overcame a slight deficit on election night to overtake Matthew Quevedo, San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan’s deputy chief of staff, by six votes.—
Devan Patel,
Mercury News,
25 June 2025
Adjective
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One in every three young adults aged 18-25 reports feeling anxious or lonely.—
Ann Kowal Smith,
Forbes.com,
17 June 2025
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Coi Leray has blessed her anxious fans with first glimpses of her and Trippie Redd’s baby girl.—
Amber Corrine,
VIBE.com,
17 June 2025
Adjective
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Edan Lui of Hong Kong boy band Mirror will also make his Korean drama debut in the new season, joining the cast in a role that pairs him in an uneasy alliance with Kim Do-gi.—
Patrick Brzeski,
HollywoodReporter,
25 June 2025
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Repeatedly returning to themes of globalization and alienation, the 55-year-old director has meticulously chronicled his country’s uneasy plunge into the 21st century as rampant industrialization risks deadening those left behind.—
Tim Grierson,
Los Angeles Times,
20 June 2025
Adjective
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In the upcoming ninth season of Rehab Addict, which premieres on June 24, Curtis restores both that Wyoming home and a troubled Detroit property that had been invaded by squatters.—
Erin Clements,
People.com,
24 June 2025
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Sue has had her own troubled relationship and substance abuse issues.—
Christopher Arnott,
Hartford Courant,
23 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Uptight.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/uptight. Accessed 30 Jun. 2025.
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