terrible twos

noun

A developmental stage in toddlers, normally occurring around the age of two, involving refusals and temper tantrums.

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Meanings

nounterrible twos pl (plural only)
  1. informalpluralplural onlyhuman sciencesA developmental stage in toddlers, normally occurring around the age of two, involving refusals and temper tantrums.

    The terrible twos can begin at 18 months and last until about age five.

    1988 February, Working Mother, volume 11, number 2
    2 more examples

    The terrible twos came early. Almost a year early. When Ryan learned to walk it was the end of our peace of mind!

    1990, Susan Hughes, Ryan: a mother's story of her hyperactive/Tourette syndrome child

    I don’t care what they say about the ‘terrible twos,’ three is the worst age. When it’s over nothing will ever be as bad as that.

    2000, Rona Jaffe, chapter 23, in The Road Taken: A Novel, New York, N.Y.: Dutton, →ISBN, page 173
Cite this entry
APA

terrible twos. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/terrible%20twos

MLA

“terrible twos.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/terrible%20twos. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “terrible twos,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/terrible%20twos.

Source: terrible twos on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.