disapproval 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. He immediately threw a tantrum, screaming and stomping up and down like a child. a sudden short period when someone, especially a child, behaves very angrily and unreasonably have/throw a tantrum