spoiled brat

USAGE SUMMARY

"spoiled brat" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to convey that someone is entitled and ungrateful. For example, "My brother is such a spoiled brat; he always expects to get whatever he wants but never says thank you."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Informal

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Don't act spoiled it will just show them that your just a spoiled brat.

WikiHow

Aaron Swartz is a spoiled brat.

The New Yorker

Fischer played brilliantly and acted like a spoiled brat.

The New Yorker

Leslie's mother calls Leslie spoiled brat, says no pond.

The New Yorker

She seems like a spoiled brat to me".

The New York Times

Britain's capital city is becoming a spoiled brat.

The Guardian - Opinion

"He was an arrogant rich kid, a spoiled brat".

The New York Times

One State Department official described Mr Kennedy as a "pompous and a spoiled brat".

Independent

"A spoiled brat having a tantrum because he's not getting his way".

The New Yorker

An eternal child without a mother figure is just a spoiled brat.

The New York Times - Arts

In another, Rudin called Angelina Jolie a "minimally talented spoiled brat".

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

While historically applied to children, it is increasingly used in modern media to describe adults who exhibit immature or entitled behavior

Common error

Do not use this phrase when discussing medical behavioral disorders or developmental challenges. It is a social label of judgment, not a technical or professional descriptor of child psychology

Linguistic Context

The phrase "spoiled brat" functions as a noun phrase composed of a past participle adjective ("spoiled") and a pejorative noun ("brat"). According to Ludwig AI, it is a standard and grammatically correct way to describe individuals perceived as ungrateful or entitled.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Wiki

25%

Personal Blogs & Social Commentary

20%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

5%

Academia

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "spoiled brat" is a highly prevalent and effective idiomatic expression used to describe individuals—both children and adults—who exhibit entitlement and a lack of gratitude. Analysis of Ludwig data shows its presence in top-tier publications like The New York Times and The Guardian, where it serves as a descriptive tool for character evaluation. While grammatically correct and versatile, writers should be mindful of its strong pejorative tone. It is best used in narrative writing, social commentary and informal dialogue rather than clinical or highly professional settings. When a more neutral tone is required, alternatives such as "entitled" or "over-indulged" are recommended.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

bratty kid

A more colloquial and slightly more aggressive variation

entitled child

Uses more formal language to describe the same psychological trait of entitlement

pampered youth

Emphasizes the indulgent care received rather than the resulting bad behavior

coddled minor

Suggests the subject is overprotected and has not faced real-world consequences

indulged adolescent

A descriptive clinical-sounding alternative that removes some of the pejorative sting

privileged youngster

Focuses on the socioeconomic advantage rather than the personality defect

self-centered juvenile

Describes the underlying narcissism often associated with the behavior

silver-spooner

An idiomatic reference to being born into wealth and getting everything easily

unruly offspring

Focuses on the lack of discipline and behavior problems specifically

petulant heir

Specific to individuals who stand to inherit wealth and show poor temperament

FAQs

What does it mean to call someone a "spoiled brat"?

It refers to a person, typically a child, who behaves badly because they are given everything they want without having to earn it. Ludwig examples show it is often used as a direct insult for ungrateful behavior.

What is a more polite way to say "spoiled brat"?

You can use more neutral terms like "<a href="/s/over-indulged+child" target="_blank" rel="alternative">over-indulged child", "<a href="/s/privileged+youth" target="_blank" rel="alternative">privileged youth" or simply "<a href="/s/entitled" target="_blank" rel="alternative">entitled" depending on the context.

Can I use "spoiled brat" to describe an adult?

Yes, it is common in news and media to describe adults who act out when they do not get their way. For instance, the phrase has been applied to public figures and politicians in The New York Times and The Guardian.

Is "spoiled brat" considered a slang term?

It is more of a pejorative idiom than pure slang. While informal, it is widely recognized and frequently used in high-quality journalism and literature to characterize difficult personalities.