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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of uptight
Coin Heist, adapted from Elisa Ludwig’s YA novel, follows in the footsteps of The Breakfast Club by uniting high schoolers who otherwise wouldn’t give each other the time of day: a hacker, the headmaster’s slacker son, a football phenom on a scholarship, and an uptight brainiac.
—
Sara Netzley, EW.com, 8 Jan. 2025
During Franklin’s tenure, he’s often come across publicly as too uptight.
—Audrey Snyder, The Athletic, 7 Jan. 2025
The first sizzling sapphic romance from bestseller Guillory follows the uptight Avery who's exploring her attraction to women for the first time.
—Lizz Schumer, People.com, 27 Dec. 2024
Though Bowen Yang and Ego Nwodim’s TSA security guards played hosts of the pageant, Short also appeared as the uptight Delta Lounge employee, preventing figures such as Rudd from entering.
—Harrison Richlin, IndieWire, 22 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for uptight
Sara Netzley, EW.com, 8 Jan. 2025
During Franklin’s tenure, he’s often come across publicly as too uptight.
—Audrey Snyder, The Athletic, 7 Jan. 2025
The first sizzling sapphic romance from bestseller Guillory follows the uptight Avery who's exploring her attraction to women for the first time.
—Lizz Schumer, People.com, 27 Dec. 2024
Though Bowen Yang and Ego Nwodim’s TSA security guards played hosts of the pageant, Short also appeared as the uptight Delta Lounge employee, preventing figures such as Rudd from entering.
—Harrison Richlin, IndieWire, 22 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for uptight
Recent Examples of Synonyms for uptight
Adjective
-
In my neighborhood, people are worried about rising costs of everything.—
Robin Holmes,
Baltimore Sun,
1 Mar. 2025
-
Safety concerns Residents were also worried about the safety of the gravel roads for horses.—
Emma Hall,
Sacramento Bee,
1 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Some Trump advisers were nervous the deal might go south before the ceremonial signing, but felt confident by the time Mr. Trump greeted Zelenskyy.—
Jennifer Jacobs,
CBS News,
1 Mar. 2025
-
At the premiere of that film, Brothers At War, in 2009, Joe was nervous.—
Eileen Finan,
People.com,
28 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
And the charge Jones drew on Bogdan Bogdanović with 1:53 remaining set the table for the Bulls to attempt — and, ultimately, fail — to pull off the upset win.—
Julia Poe,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Feb. 2025
-
The flip side to that is that an upset loss to either would be a death blow.—
Shaun Goodwin,
Idaho Statesman,
26 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
While many companies rapidly integrate AI, this data reveals a growing disconnect: employees are increasingly anxious about its impact.—
Julian Hayes II,
Forbes,
28 Feb. 2025
-
But raising cash remains a challenge for some, with investors anxious about startups courting enough customers for healthy returns, Pershad said.—
Liang Lei,
CNBC,
26 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
The resolution is seeking $4.5 trillion in tax breaks and $2 trillion in spending cuts over the next 10 years, measures that have met opposition from Democrats and made some Republicans uneasy.—
Ross Rosenfeld,
Newsweek,
26 Feb. 2025
-
In my conversations with barbecue people, there was often uneasy tension about whether craft barbecue is something new or a return to an old way of doing things.—
Rachel Monroe,
The New Yorker,
22 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
Bloomberg | Bloomberg | Getty Images Europe’s troubled luxury sector is showing signs of revival after an upbeat earnings season.—
Karen Gilchrist,
CNBC,
24 Feb. 2025
-
And that’s the lesson his parents, especially his troubled dad, have to learn.—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
23 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Uptight.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/uptight. Accessed 5 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share