enfant terrible

[ ahn-fahn te-ree-bluh ]

noun

, French.

, plural en·fants ter·ri·bles [ah, n, -fah, n, te-, ree, -bl, uh].

1. an incorrigible child, as one whose behavior is embarrassing.
2. an outrageously outspoken or bold person who says and does indiscreet or irresponsible things.
3. a person whose work, thought, or lifestyle is so unconventional or avant-garde as to appear revolutionary or shocking.

enfant terrible

/ ɑ̃fɑ̃ tɛriblə /

noun

1. a person given to unconventional conduct or indiscreet remarks

enfant terrible

1. A person who stirs things up in an irresponsible or indiscreet way or has unconventional ideas: “Doctor Hill keeps writing articles that criticize his fellow physicians; he is becoming known as the enfant terrible of his profession.” From French, meaning “terrible child.”

Word History and Origins

Origin of enfant terrible¹

First recorded in 1850–55; literally, “terrible child”

Word History and Origins

Origin of enfant terrible¹

C19: literally: terrible child

Example Sentences

Still peripherally engaged in the literary scene, Soon encounters an aging author named Echo, the “enfant terrible of South Korean letters,” whose novels are finally being translated into English by a small press.

From Los Angeles Times

In the transition from enfant terrible to elder statesman, Mamet refashioned himself as a neocon crank, sounding off like a regular contributor to the comments section of Breitbart News.

From Los Angeles Times

Throughout the Ukraine invasion, Prigozhin had occupied the role of enfant terrible, regularly lambasting Russia’s military leadership — but never Putin himself — for what he said was incompetence in prosecuting the war.

From Los Angeles Times

“Do you know this French term enfant terrible? That’s what I was,” he said with a mischievous smile.

From Los Angeles Times

As one experienced writer/producer told me, "being an enfant terrible is still rewarded."

From Salon