uptight
Stuffy and nervous
Uptight describes someone who is tense, anxious, or unable to relax—often excessively concerned with rules, propriety, or control.
An uptight person may be rigid about small matters or easily offended: Don't be so uptight about it.
The word suggests someone who would benefit from loosening up.
She's too uptight to enjoy a spontaneous road trip.
Uneasy and apprehensive
- tenseStrained or nervous
- on-edgeTense and uneasy
- jitteryAnxiously restless
- high-strungNervously sensitive temperament
stressed · overwrought · antsy · apprehensive · uneasy · edgy · restless · agitated
Excessively strict about morals
- strait-lacedExcessively proper and strict
- primAffectedly proper and stiff
- properSocially appropriate
- priggishSmugly self-righteous
Victorian · moralistic · repressed · inhibited · squeamish · old-fashioned · conservative · censorious
Unable to bend
- unbendingRefusing to change position
- stiffNot easily bent
- unyieldingRefusing to give way
- uncompromisingRefusing to yield ground
obstinate · stubborn · closed-minded · dogmatic · hidebound · immovable · adamant · unadaptable
Exerting authority over others
- demandingRequiring great effort
- perfectionistOne demanding flawlessness
- meticulousShowing extreme attention to detail
- exactingDemanding great care
regimented · authoritarian · stern · disciplinarian · fastidious · punctilious · scrupulous · rigorous
nervous
Uneasy and apprehensive
high-strung · stressed · overwrought · antsy · apprehensive · uneasy · edgy · restless · agitated · flustered
puritanical
Excessively strict about morals
- strait-lacedExcessively proper and strict
- primAffectedly proper and stiff
- properSocially appropriate
priggish · Victorian · moralistic · repressed · inhibited · squeamish · old-fashioned · conservative · censorious · modest
inflexible
Unable to bend
- unbendingRefusing to change position
- stiffNot easily bent
- unyieldingRefusing to give way
uncompromising · obstinate · stubborn · closed-minded · dogmatic · hidebound · immovable · adamant · unadaptable · fixed
controlling
Exerting authority over others
- demandingRequiring great effort
- perfectionistOne demanding flawlessness
- meticulousShowing extreme attention to detail
exacting · regimented · authoritarian · stern · disciplinarian · fastidious · punctilious · scrupulous · rigorous · rule-bound
- retro slanggroovy, far out, the bee's knees, neato, cool cat
- slang moodsbummed, chill, cranky, edgy, grumpy
- slang traitsbossy, brainy, bubbly, chatty, cheeky
- uneasyanxious, nervous, jittery, edgy, tense
- reactivereactive, excitable, volatile, high-strung, jumpy
- Anxietyanxiety, nervousness, panic, worry, generalized anxiety
uptightlaid-back
Calm and unhurried
easygoing · loose · flexible · relaxed · permissive
uptightcasual
Relaxed and informal
informal · approachable · warm · friendly · down-to-earth