enfant terrible
noun
äⁿ-fäⁿ-te-ˈrēblᵊ
äⁿ-fäⁿ-te-ˈrēblᵊ
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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.
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Examples of enfant terrible in a Sentence
Charles McGrath, The Atlantic, 8 Oct. 2024
For an enfant terrible, Munk is surprisingly modest and self-effacing.
—Rebecca Mead, The New Yorker, 23 Sep. 2024
Now marking its eighth edition, Venice Immersive remains the greater Biennale family’s perpetual enfant terrible.
—Ben Croll, Variety, 30 Aug. 2024
The look is a combination of two previous designs by the enfant terrible of French fashion.
—Hayley Maitland, Vogue, 24 June 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Enfant terrible.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/enfant%20terrible. Accessed 23 Nov. 2024.
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