as in bohemian
a person who does not conform to generally accepted standards or customs
an author who reveled in his role as the enfant terrible of American letters
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Recent Examples of enfant terrible
The epitome of an enfant terrible, Rimbaud was a rebellious adolescent with a tempestuous personal life (ask fellow poet Paul Verlaine).
—
René Ostberg, Encyclopedia Britannica, 7 May 2026
Sure, Gaultier was nicknamed the enfant terrible of fashion in his early days, so provocation is part of the brand’s vernacular.
—José Criales-Unzueta, Vanity Fair, 14 Mar. 2026
In addition, the event’s most unusual offering, the 220-pound, 18-karat gold toilet by the conceptual artist and enfant terrible Maurizio Cattelan, only drew a single bid.
—Jacqui Palumbo, CNN Money, 19 Nov. 2025
Taken together with Scorsese’s own unvarnished self-assessment, these conversations transcend Behind the Music clichés to create a portrait of the artist as a man whose path from brash enfant terrible to beloved eminence was paved with introspection.
—Judy Berman, Time, 30 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for enfant terrible
René Ostberg, Encyclopedia Britannica, 7 May 2026
Sure, Gaultier was nicknamed the enfant terrible of fashion in his early days, so provocation is part of the brand’s vernacular.
—José Criales-Unzueta, Vanity Fair, 14 Mar. 2026
In addition, the event’s most unusual offering, the 220-pound, 18-karat gold toilet by the conceptual artist and enfant terrible Maurizio Cattelan, only drew a single bid.
—Jacqui Palumbo, CNN Money, 19 Nov. 2025
Taken together with Scorsese’s own unvarnished self-assessment, these conversations transcend Behind the Music clichés to create a portrait of the artist as a man whose path from brash enfant terrible to beloved eminence was paved with introspection.
—Judy Berman, Time, 30 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for enfant terrible
Recent Examples of Synonyms for enfant terrible
Noun
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Collins is a tough campaigner who can straddle the line as reliable party player and outspoken maverick.—
Julia Terruso,
Time,
8 June 2026
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Over his career, he was described as a blunt, independent, outspoken politician who was a maverick, boat-rocker, loose cannon, skilled partisan, and, above all, political survivor.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
7 June 2026
Noun
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As Kissinger understood, even lone rangers need friends.—
MARGARET MACMILLAN,
Foreign Affairs,
21 July 2025
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And while his rivals have landed serious blows against him, he’s embraced the tabloid-style frenzy at each of those junctures, incorporating them into his narrative identity as an underappreciated lone ranger constantly battling the world.—
TIME,
TIME,
7 May 2024
Noun
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One of the trickiest parts for the Secret Service is trying to anticipate the lone wolf who might suddenly show up at an event, or approach the White House gates.—
Matt Viser,
The Atlantic,
1 June 2026
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No single lone wolf will save the day.—
Maria Ross,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2026
Noun
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Baez’s sister described her brother as a free spirit who wandered up and down the East Coast, from Florida to his home state of Massachusetts, where his two children live with their mother.—
Thomas Tracy,
New York Daily News,
3 June 2026
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But art must be an expression of man’s free spirit.—
Jessica George,
JSTOR Daily,
27 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Enfant terrible.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/enfant%20terrible. Accessed 11 Jun. 2026.
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