tightass
tightass Lexical Profile
tightass Game Scores & Validity
• noun
North American An excessively conventional, inhibited, or rigid person who struggles to relax or enjoy themselves (vulgar slang).
"Stop being such a tightass and come join the rest of the team on the dance floor."
Australian A stingy or miserly person who hates spending money (vulgar slang).
"He is a total tightass who always disappears right when the restaurant bill arrives."
• adjective
Australian Reluctant to spend or share money; excessively thrifty or stingy (vulgar slang).
"His tightass roommate tried to charge everyone fifty cents for using a splash of milk."
North American Excessively strict, inhibited, rigid, or easily offended (vulgar slang).
"The new supervisor instituted a bunch of tightass rules about desk decorations."
Word Nuance & Usage
Because 'tightass' is vulgar slang, it is inappropriate for formal or professional registers. Note the regional divide: in North America it primarily describes someone who is uptight or prudish, whereas in Australia and New Zealand (often spelled 'tightarse') it almost exclusively means someone who is stingy with money.