uptight

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Sean Penn, Hollywood's eternal rebel, on Sunday won a third Oscar for his comic yet terrifying portrayal of an absurdly uptight soldier ashamed of his past in "One Battle After Another."

From Barron's • Mar. 16, 2026

The depictions of Ruth’s uptight and stingy brother Hyacinth and jealous and mother-in-law from hell “old Mrs. Hall” are both hoots.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 27, 2026

On its surface, Atlas seems to be delivering a revenge fantasy: All those uptight women who rejected you will get dumped by the time they’re 30, guys!

From Salon • Nov. 21, 2025

It took a once controversial effort for Bernstein to transform an uptight virtuosic New York Philharmonic into a tight but electric one.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 12, 2025

“Haven’t you read Jane Austen? English people are more uptight than us, not less.”

From "I'll Give You the Sun" by Jandy Nelson