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
Relevance
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
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
Jacobs launched Marc by Marc Jacobs in 2001, cementing his eventual status as a fashion mogul — and, at moments throughout his career, as a kind of enfant terrible who, as it’s shown in this documentary, has cooled down a bit, more settled and reflective in his late career.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 26 Feb. 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
José Criales-Unzueta, Vanity Fair, 14 Mar. 2026
Jacobs launched Marc by Marc Jacobs in 2001, cementing his eventual status as a fashion mogul — and, at moments throughout his career, as a kind of enfant terrible who, as it’s shown in this documentary, has cooled down a bit, more settled and reflective in his late career.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 26 Feb. 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
-
Carl Anka Trent Alexander-Arnold’s England career is a fascinating case study in why team sports can prefer the orthodox to the mavericks.—
The Athletic UK Staff,
New York Times,
13 May 2026
-
And what once was a simple majority-rules vote each week has been complicated by the addition of individual immunity idols and advantages that can shift the balance of power from the collective toward maverick individuals.—
Julie Beck,
The Atlantic,
12 May 2026
Noun
-
As Kissinger understood, even lone rangers need friends.—
MARGARET MACMILLAN,
Foreign Affairs,
21 July 2025
-
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
-
This was a lone wolf, in my opinion.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
27 Apr. 2026
-
There’s a lone wolf fighting for his survival on his own.—
Lily Ford,
HollywoodReporter,
24 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Redford played a conservative lawyer who marries Fonda, a free spirit.—
Victoria Edel,
PEOPLE,
1 May 2026
-
But Nora is a free spirit who enjoys her liberation; of course, problems arise when the three men meet and decide to be more proactive about the situation.—
Kevin Jacobsen,
Entertainment Weekly,
5 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Enfant terrible.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/enfant%20terrible. Accessed 23 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
