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
Alison Willmore, Vulture, 27 May 2026
Here is a director who gets off on being an enfant terrible even at 55 years old.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 19 May 2026
For years, he was known as an enfant terrible; now he’s matured.
—Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 16 May 2026
Though he’s known in some circles as country music’s enfant terrible, Wallen is the genre’s golden boy, boasting four No. 1 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 and 19 in the top 10.
—Heather Bushman, IndyStar, 8 May 2026
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 5 Jun. 2026.
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