tantrum

noun

tan·​trum ˈtan-trəm 

: a fit of bad temper

Synonyms of tantrum

• huff
• outburst
• scene
• explosion
• reaction
• fit
• fireworks
• frenzy
• rage

Examples of tantrum in a Sentence

had a tantrum when he found his little sister using his model paints

Recent Examples on the Web

The easiest way to differentiate a tantrum from restraint collapse is to pay attention to how your child reacts to intervention during a meltdown. — Liz Regalia, Parents, 2 Aug. 2026

Packing the Cooler Packing up drinks and snacks for a picnic, beach day, or lake day is a big task, and little hands were called on to choose the must-haves (lest grandma risk a tantrum on location). — Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 27 July 2026

Elon Musk, the richest man in the world, joined the online tantrum over the casting of the actor Lupita Nyong’o as Helen, whose presence in Troy justified Agamemnon’s invasion. — Adam Serwer, The Atlantic, 24 July 2026

And somehow, the process managed to produce a nation where children curse, dream, and throw tantrums in Hebrew without anyone feeling for a moment as if they were trapped in a historical reënactment. — Nikhil Krishnan, New Yorker, 20 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

origin unknown

First Known Use

1714, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing tantrum

• have/throw/pitch a tantrum

Rhymes for tantrum

• antrum

Kids Definition

tantrum

noun

tan·​trum ˈtan-trəm 

: a fit of bad temper

Medical Definition

tantrum

noun

tan·​trum ˈtan-trəm 

: a fit of bad temper