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

“We are three extremely exhausted dads in our 30s,” replies the uptight one, “how epic could it be?”

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 14, 2025

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

From Salon • Jul. 25, 2024

Like the in-laws in Meet the Fockers and My Big Fat Greek Wedding, they are still hopelessly uptight but not that wealthy anymore.

From "Class Matters" by The New York Times