Enfant Terrible Definition

äɴ-fäɴ tĕ-rēblə

enfants-terribles, enfant-terrible

noun

An unmanageable, mischievous child.

Webster's New World

One whose startlingly unconventional behavior, work, or thought embarrasses or disturbs others.

The radical painter was the enfant terrible of the art establishment.

American Heritage

Anyone constantly vexing, startling, or embarrassing others, as, in the arts, by outraging conventional opinion or expectations.

Webster's New World

Other Word Forms of Enfant Terrible

Singular:

enfant terrible

Plural:

enfants-terribles

Borrowing from French enfant terrible (“terrible child”).

From Wiktionary
French enfant child terrible frightful

From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

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