enfant terrible
noun
äⁿ-fäⁿ-te-ˈrēblᵊ
äⁿ-fäⁿ-te-ˈrēblᵊ
Did you know?
Enfant terrible, which literally means "terrifying child" in French, sounds like something that might be uttered by a frazzled babysitter. Indeed, when English speakers first borrowed the term in the mid-19th century, it was used in reference to children - specifically, unpredictable children who blurted out outrageous remarks that embarrassed their elders. By the 1930s, the term had a broader application: an enfant terrible could be anyone - young or old - whose behavior shocked others. Now the term is also often applied to young, successful newcomers who shock or scare old-timers with their new approaches, easy successes, or disregard for tradition.
Examples of enfant terrible in a Sentence
Jeetendr Sehdev, Forbes.com, 2 Apr. 2025
Once an enfant terrible, Emin was known during the ’90s for sculptures and performances that explored the emotional toll of erotic encounters.
—Tessa Solomon, ARTnews.com, 28 Mar. 2025
Artist, filmmaker, and former enfant terrible Harmony Korine is closing in on the New York premiere of his latest film, Baby Invasion.
—Harrison Jacobs, ARTnews.com, 17 Mar. 2025
The European People’s Party (EPP), a center-right, pro-EU alliance of more than 40 national member parties, has been roiled by a dispute over how to deal with its enfant terrible: the far-right nationalist party Fidesz, led by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban.
—Kim Lane Scheppele, Foreign Affairs, 28 Mar. 2019
See All Example Sentences for enfant terrible
Cite this Entry
“Enfant terrible.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/enfant%20terrible. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.
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