enfant terrible

noun

ˌän-ˌfänt-te-ˈrē-blə How to pronounce enfant terrible (audio)
Definition of enfant terriblenext
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.
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 Javier Bardem is terrific as a former enfant terrible filmmaker who tries to reconnect with his estranged daughter by putting her in his new movie in The Beloved, which eschews the easy sentimental beats but also ends up short on many satisfying ones. — Alison Willmore, Vulture, 27 May 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 At the heart of the documentary are the contrasting journeys of former enfant terrible of UK cuisine Marco Pierre White, and the young team behind rising Italian Japanese fusion restaurant Angelina in London’s hipster Dalston neighborhood. — Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 4 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for enfant terrible
Recent Examples of Synonyms for enfant terrible
  1. maverick
  2. lone wolf
  3. free spirit
Noun
  • This love, combined with egalitarian ideals, has made Hill a bit of a late-blooming maverick.
    — Dac Collins, Outdoor Life, 1 July 2026
  • His maverick persona and armored storm-chasing vehicle, the Dominator 3 — featured on Jay Leno’s Garage — directly inspired the character of Tyler Owens, played by Glen Powell in the 2024 summer blockbuster Twisters.
    — Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 23 June 2026
Definition of maverick
Noun
  • In that episode, lone wolf Gibbs got a new special friend, an adorable dog.
    — Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 1 July 2026
  • Unlike solitary hunters such as leopards or tigers, wolves pursue prey that often outweighs them considerably, which means a lone wolf is, in practical terms, an ineffective one.
    — Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 23 June 2026
Definition of lone wolf
Noun
  • Expertly interpreted by Jacobson, Tangles is Sarah’s story, a free spirit still held back due to her responsibility as a loving daughter.
    — Pete Hammond, Deadline, 23 June 2026
  • 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
Definition of free spirit

Browse Nearby Words

enfants terribles
enfant terrible
enfeeble
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Cite this Entry

“Enfant terrible.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/enfant%20terrible. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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