If a child has a tantrum, they lose their temper in a noisy and uncontrolled way. If you say that an adult is throwing a tantrum, you are criticizing them for losing their temper and acting in a childish way.
[disapproval]
My son had a tantrum and banged his fist on the ground.
He immediately threw a tantrum, screaming and stomping up and down like a child.
Synonyms: outburst, temper, hysterics, fit More Synonyms of tantrum
tantrum in British English
(ˈtæntrəm)
noun
(often plural)
a childish fit of rage; outburst of bad temper
Also called (Austral): tanty (ˈtæntɪ)
Word origin
C18: of unknown origin
tantrum in American English
(ˈtæntrəm)
noun
a violent, willful outburst of annoyance, rage, etc.; childish fit of bad temper
Examples of 'tantrum' in a sentence
tantrum
We predict tears, tantrums and more pouting than you can shake a stick at.
The Sun (2016)
He would sit on his own, lining up toy cars, and if anyone disturbed him he would throw a massive tantrum.
The Sun (2017)
THEN Roll on the tears, tantrums and tinsel.
The Sun (2016)
Throwing tantrums or simply getting her arrested will only reflect badly on you.
The Sun (2012)
It was a sensitive call but he knew better than to expect tears or tantrums.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Her son still has tantrums but his behaviour is much improved.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
She would throw a tantrum right there on stage.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
And the feisty singer admits throwing temper tantrums to get the anger out of her system.
The Sun (2012)
He claims to have mellowed in middle age and has put all the bad language and temper tantrums behind him.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
What about the tantrums, tears and bouts of incontinence?
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
With the removal of the gas range, her temper tantrums quickly subsided.
Randolph, Theron G. & Moss, Ralph W. (contributor) An Alternative Approach to Allergies (1990)
What's real are the tantrums and the tears.
The Sun (2013)
There were no tantrums, just tears from me.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Expect tears, tantrums and trysts galore courtesy of these feisty females!
The Sun (2013)
He does have temper tantrums and the attention span of a three-year-old.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
A parental command arrests a childish tantrum.
Christianity Today (2000)
A man will pride himself upon his fiery temper, forgetting that when he was young such outbursts were called tantrums.
Lumsden, Robert 23 Steps to Successful Achievement (1972)
In future, fans will have to put up with childish tantrums, spoilt behaviour and spats from aspiring business moguls who actually claim to be grown up.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
In other languages
tantrum
British English: tantrum /ˈtæntrəm/ NOUN
If a child has a tantrum, it suddenly becomes angry in a noisy way.
He immediately threw a tantrum, screaming and stomping up and down.
American English: tantrum
Arabic: نَوْبَةُ غَضَب
Brazilian Portuguese: chilique
Chinese: 发脾气
Croatian: provala bijesa
Czech: záchvat vzteku
Danish: raserianfald
Dutch: woede-uitbarsting
European Spanish: berrinche
Finnish: kiukkukohtaus
French: caprice
German: Wutanfall
Greek: ξέσπασμα θυμού
Italian: collera
Japanese: かんしゃく
Korean: 떼 고집부리다
Norwegian: raserianfall
Polish: napad złości
European Portuguese: chilique
Romanian: a-i sări bâzdâcul
Russian: вспышка гнева
Latin American Spanish: berrinche
Swedish: utbrott
Thai: การมีอารมณ์เกรี้ยวกราด
Turkish: öfke nöbeti
Ukrainian: спалах роздратування
Vietnamese: cơn giận
Chinese translation of 'tantrum'
tantrum
(ˈtæntrəm)
n(c)
发(發)脾气(氣) (fā píqi)
to have a tantrum[child]耍脾气(氣) (shuǎ píqi)
to throw a tantrum[adult]发(發)脾气(氣) (fā píqi)
(noun)
Definition
a childish outburst of bad temper
My son had a tantrum and banged his fist on the ground.
Synonyms
outburst
an outburst of anger
temper
She was still in a temper when I arrived.
hysterics
fit
I broke into a fit of giggles.
storm
The photos caused a storm when they were first published.
paddy (British, old-fashioned)
Don't talk to him just now - he's in a real paddy.
wax (old-fashioned, mainly British)
flare-up
paroxysm (formal)
She was overcome by a paroxysm of grief.
bate (British, slang, old-fashioned)
ill humour
foulie (Australian, slang)
hissy fit (informal)
strop (British, informal)
Additional synonyms
in the sense of fit
Definition
a sudden short burst or spell
I broke into a fit of giggles.
Synonyms
bout,
burst,
outbreak,
outburst,
spell
in the sense of ill humour
Synonyms
irascibility,
sulks,
sharpness,
irritability,
spleen,
pique,
petulance,
bate (British, slang),
moodiness,
tartness,
grumpiness,
testiness,
moroseness,
sulkiness,
crossness,
crabbiness,
disagreeableness,
(bad) mood,
(bad) temper,
foulie (Australian, slang)
in the sense of paddy
Definition
a fit of temper
Don't talk to him just now - he's in a real paddy.
Synonyms
temper,
tantrum,
bad mood,
passion,
rage,
pet,
fit of pique,
fit of temper,
wax (informal, British),
tiff,
bate (British, slang),
paddywhack (British, informal),
foulie (Australian, slang),
hissy fit (informal),
strop (informal)
Nearby words of
tantrum
tantalize
tantamount
tantamount to
tantrum
tap
tape
tape something off
Synonyms of 'tantrum'
tantrum
Explore 'tantrum' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of paroxysm
Definition
a fit or convulsion
She was overcome by a paroxysm of grief.
Synonyms
outburst,
attack,
fit,
seizure,
flare-up (informal),
eruption,
spasm,
convulsion
in the sense of storm
Definition
a violent disturbance or quarrel
The photos caused a storm when they were first published.