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

Maybe being a micromanager and a little uptight weren’t such horrible things after all.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 29, 2024

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

From Salon • Jul. 25, 2024

Dad does the finger-tapping thing he does when he’s getting uptight.

From "Blended" by Sharon M. Draper