tantrum
A tantrum is when someone gets extremely upset and becomes hard to calm down. It can happen anywhere, even in public.
When we say that someone had a tantrum, it usually means they were behaving badly because of frustration or anger, like throwing things or screaming loudly. People might use this word when talking about kids who are having trouble sharing toys or taking no for an answer. But adults can have tantrums too - maybe they get upset if their flight is delayed or they're stuck in traffic. In any case, a tantrum is a big emotional outburst that's hard to control, and it often ends with the person being sorry or feeling embarrassed afterwards.
How common is "tantrum"?
It has a balanced usage among all categories: speech, fiction, newspapers and academic texts.
noun
An often childish display or fit of bad temper.
Example: Many parents become embarrassed by their children throwing tantrums in public places.
Real examples of "tantrum" in context
