uptight

[ uhp-tahyt ]

adjective

, Slang.

1. tense, nervous, or jittery.
2. annoyed or angry.
3. stiffly conventional in manner or attitudes.

uptight

/ ʌpˈtaɪt /

adjective

1. displaying tense repressed nervousness, irritability, or anger
2. unable to give expression to one's feelings, personality, etc

Other Words From

• up·tightness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of uptight¹

1960–65, Americanism; up (perhaps as intensifier) + tight

Example Sentences

Who would want to be uptight when you could be irrepressible?

From Salon

At first, the character is "uptight, serious, buttoned up", and Dennis has to curb his natural instincts to play up to the crowd.

From BBC

A finely calibrated cast, including Christopher Walken, finds depth in initially shallow stereotypes — rich influencer, uptight white guy, brainy Indian girl — as a crew sentenced to community service for their petty infractions.

From Los Angeles Times

"I'm so much less uptight," he said, before laughing.

From BBC

“The style of his drawings probably didn’t help him in the uptight art world, but his work deserves to be there.”

From New York Times

Related Words

• anxious
• apprehensive
• cautious
• edgy
• nervous
• uneasy