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.
Synonyms
Examples of enfant terrible in a Sentence
Hayley Maitland, Vogue, 24 June 2024
Following events depicted in the show, Lee continued developing relationships with influential designers, serving as a Giorgio Armani brand ambassador and becoming friends with Louis Vuitton’s then-new enfant terrible creative director Marc Jacobs in the '90s.
—Fawnia Soo Hoo, refinery29.com, 31 Jan. 2024
But the provocateur-in-chief is now too established to still be considered an enfant terrible.
—Patrick Frater, Variety, 3 July 2024
Of course, the enfant terrible himself also made a cameo on Place Vendôme to dress Aya Nakamura for her opening number yesterday.
—Hayley Maitland, Vogue, 24 June 2024
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“Enfant terrible.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/enfant%20terrible. Accessed 19 Aug. 2024.
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