tantrum
Toddler's emotional explosion
A tantrum is an outburst of anger, frustration, or distress—typically involving crying, screaming, or physical thrashing.
The word most often describes children's meltdowns when they don't get what they want: She threw a tantrum in the grocery store.
Applied to adults, tantrum suggests childish, disproportionate behavior: He had a tantrum when his flight was delayed.
Loud, shrill vocalizing
- shriekingEmitting shrill, loud cries
- yellingVocalization at maximum volume
- howlingProlonged mournful crying sound
- wailingProlonged mournful crying
flailing · thrashing · hysterics · fit · explosion · eruption · scene · commotion
Angry prolonged outburst
- outburstSudden emotional release
- harangueAggressive lengthy scolding
- diatribeBitter, prolonged verbal attack
- invectiveAbusive denunciation
vitriol · berating · railing · raving · venting · verbal · unloading
Prolonged nasal complaining
- sulkingSilent, resentful withdrawal
- poutingShowing petulant displeasure
- petulanceIrritable, childish impatience
- screamingLoud, shrill vocalizing
bawling · stamping · fussiness · spoiled · defiance · willfulness · stubbornness · misbehavior
Intense violent anger
- wrathFierce, punishing anger
- rageIntense, violent anger
- outrageFierce moral indignation
- lividExtremely angry or discolored
seething · irate · enraged · incensed · fuming · infuriated · indignation · resentment
Intense weary annoyance
- impatienceIntolerance of delay
- irritabilityProneness to agitation
- annoyanceState of being bothered
- discontentUnhappiness with circumstances
agitation · disappointment · dissatisfaction · pique · disgruntlement · peevishness · testiness · grouchiness
Defeated by sheer volume
- breakdownFailure or decomposition
- collapseSudden structural failure
- emotionalShowing strong feelings
- crisisDecisive dangerous moment
distress · helplessness · panic · hysteria · unraveling · overstimulation · dysregulation · exhaustion
screaming
Loud, shrill vocalizing
- shriekingEmitting shrill, loud cries
- yellingVocalization at maximum volume
- howlingProlonged mournful crying sound
wailing · flailing · thrashing · hysterics · fit · explosion · eruption · scene · commotion · uproar
rant
Angry prolonged outburst
- outburstSudden emotional release
- harangueAggressive lengthy scolding
- diatribeBitter, prolonged verbal attack
invective · vitriol · berating · railing · raving · venting · verbal · unloading
whining
Prolonged nasal complaining
- sulkingSilent, resentful withdrawal
- poutingShowing petulant displeasure
- petulanceIrritable, childish impatience
screaming · bawling · stamping · fussiness · spoiled · defiance · willfulness · stubbornness · misbehavior · disobedience
fury
Intense violent anger
livid · seething · irate · enraged · incensed · fuming · infuriated · indignation · resentment · hostility
exasperation
Intense weary annoyance
- impatienceIntolerance of delay
- irritabilityProneness to agitation
- annoyanceState of being bothered
discontent · agitation · disappointment · dissatisfaction · pique · disgruntlement · peevishness · testiness · grouchiness · crankiness
overwhelmed
Defeated by sheer volume
crisis · distress · helplessness · panic · hysteria · unraveling · overstimulation · dysregulation · exhaustion · snapping
- angeranger, rage, fury, wrath, ire
- baby carebottles, bottle feeding, pacifiers, cribs, baby oil
- acting outmeltdowns, pouting, whining, sulking, backtalk
- bratty behaviorwhining, pouting, sulking, backtalk, sass
- dramatic behavioroutburst, meltdown, scene, fit, hysteria
- emotional outburstsmeltdown, outburst, angry outburst, hissy fit, blowup
tantrumcalm
Free from agitation
serenity · tranquility · peace · composure · equanimity
tantrumself-control
Ability to restrain impulses
composure · restraint · poise · self-possession · measured response
tantrummaturity
Full growth achieved
equanimity · patience · emotional maturity · forbearance · graciousness
- throw a tantrumExplode in emotional outburst
- temper tantrumExplosive emotional outburst
- throwing a tantrumExplosive emotional display
- threw a tantrumErupted in childish anger
- have a tantrumLose emotional control dramatically
- thrown a tantrumHad angry emotional outburst