tantrum

noun

tan·​trum ˈtan-trəm How to pronounce tantrum (audio)
Synonyms of tantrumnext
: a fit of bad temper

Examples of tantrum in a Sentence

had a tantrum when he found his little sister using his model paints
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Wait lists cause a lot of stress in parents who are facing the realities of their kids' tantrums on a daily basis. Madeline Mitchell, USA Today, 31 Mar. 2026 And what that implies is that people like TSA agents or folks that work in the federal government for the Department of Agriculture or- don't get paid when one party throws a tantrum, right? CBS News, 29 Mar. 2026 Fed Chair Ben Bernanke sparked a taper tantrum in 2013 with just the mention of the possibility of reducing Fed asset purchases. Steve Liesman,matt Peterson, CNBC, 27 Mar. 2026 During the tantrum, the child verbally abuses the parent and also destroys property within the home. Sherri Gordon, Parents, 15 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for tantrum

Word History

Etymology

origin unknown

First Known Use

1714, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of tantrum was in 1714

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Tantrum.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tantrum. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.

Kids Definition

tantrum

noun
tan·​trum ˈtan-trəm How to pronounce tantrum (audio)
: a fit of bad temper

Medical Definition

tantrum

noun
tan·​trum ˈtan-trəm How to pronounce tantrum (audio)
: a fit of bad temper

More from Merriam-Webster on tantrum

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster