Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

enfant-terrible

Noun
/ɑ̃.fɑ̃.teʁ.i.bl/
Definition
A child or young person whose unconventional behavior or ideas shock or challenge social norms.
Examples
  • The artist was considered an enfant-terrible in the world of contemporary art for his radical approach to traditional methods.
  • As a teenager, she embraced her role as the family’s enfant-terrible by constantly pushing boundaries and defying expectations.
Meaning
The term ‘enfant-terrible’ is often used to refer to an individual, particularly a young one, who is seen as an outsider or nonconformist and who behaves in a way that is unexpected and provocative.
Synonyms
  • prodigy
  • radical
  • iconoclast
  • nonconformist