tantrum

noun

tan·​trum ˈtan-trəm How to pronounce tantrum (audio)
Synonyms of tantrum
: a fit of bad temper

Synonyms of tantrum

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Examples of tantrum in a Sentence

had a tantrum when he found his little sister using his model paints
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The concern that gentle parenting might spoil kids isn’t new—especially in online parenting discourse where videos of parents calmly narrating a tantrum or negotiating with a preschooler tend to go viral. — Alex Vance, Parents, 25 Oct. 2026 And a reminder that these millionaires are playing a child’s game, because no one relishes it with quite the joy and verve and passion and emotion and occasional tantrum like Doncic does. — Los Angeles Times, 24 Oct. 2026 Baby Dan tested the boundaries, Baby Dan defied his mother, Baby Dan threw tantrums and wouldn’t stop. — Anja Aronowsky Cronberg, New Yorker, 24 Oct. 2026 Subsequent breakout attempts failed, preceding the sharp decline associated with the tariff tantrum. — Frank Cappelleri, CNBC, 23 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for tantrum

Word History

Etymology

origin unknown

First Known Use

1714, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of tantrum was in 1714

Phrases Containing tantrum

Rhymes for tantrum

See All Rhymes for tantrum

Browse Nearby Words

Tantrist
tantrum
tanuki
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Cite this Entry

“Tantrum.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tantrum. Accessed 2 Nov. 2026.

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Kids Definition

tantrum

noun
tan·​trum ˈtan-trəm How to pronounce tantrum (audio)
: a fit of bad temper

Medical Definition

tantrum

noun
tan·​trum ˈtan-trəm How to pronounce tantrum (audio)
: a fit of bad temper

More from Merriam-Webster on tantrum

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about tantrum

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