enfants terribles
Unruly provocative children
Enfants terribles (French, "terrible children") are people who cause embarrassment or controversy through unconventional behavior or provocative statements.
The term often describes artists, public figures, or family members who defy expectations and upset established norms: He was the enfant terrible of French cinema, shocking audiences with each new film.
The singular is enfant terrible.
- prankPlayful trick on someone
- impishPlayfully mischievous in manner
- whippersnapperPresumptuous young person
- rebelAuthority defier
- misfitOne who doesn't fit in
firebrand · wildcard · bad boy · mischief · rascal · hijinks · wunderkind · controversial · avant-garde · new wave · art world · provocative · shock value · unruly · groundbreaking · iconoclastic · countercultural · devils
- Little Terrorstoddler tantrums
enfants terriblesconformists
Those obeying social norms
pillars of society · teacher's pets · goody two-shoes · straight arrows · yes-men
enfants terriblesstandard-bearers
Leaders representing a cause
torchbearers · elder statesmen · company men · insiders · traditionalists
enfants terriblessafe pair of hands
Trustworthy, competent person
classicists · crowd-pleasers · old masters · journeymen · craftsmen
enfant terrible, infant, infants, infantile, infantry, infancy, terrible, terribly, terror