Uptightness

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. The state of feeling tense, uneasy, or overly controlled in behavior or mood
2. A condition marked by nervousness and strict self-discipline, often showing discomfort
3. Experiencing emotional or mental stiffness marked by worry or rigidity in attitudes

Etymology: Uptightness is a plain compound: the adjective "uptight" with the suffix "-ness", which turns an adjective into a noun for a state or quality. The suffix itself has a long pedigree. It descends from an Old English form, "-nes", which was attached to adjectives to name the quality they described, so "uptightness" is the state of being uptight, just as "kindness" is the state of being kind. The base word carries the more interesting history. "Uptight" began in American English as a term for a tense, rigid, or anxious manner, and it is the adjective that gives the noun its sense of nervous strain. The suffix did the grammatical work, but the feeling of being wound up and stiff lives in the root.

Synonyms: tension, nervousness, anxiety

Antonyms: relaxation, calmness, ease