primadonna
0 antonyms and opposites of primadonna, grouped by meaning.
Noun — A person who behaves as though they are more important than everyone else, demanding special treatment and sulking when they do not get it.
Synonyms by Meaning
1. noun informal, disapproving
A person who behaves as though they are more important than everyone else, demanding special treatment and sulking when they do not get it.
“He's a talented striker but a complete primadonna in the dressing room.”
2. noun
The leading female singer in an opera company or production.
“She sang as prima donna at La Scala for a decade.”
How to Use Primadonna
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
The insult sense is the everyday one and is always negative. The two-word spelling prima donna is preferred in formal writing and for the opera sense.
Etymology
From Italian prima donna, literally "first lady", the term for the leading female singer in an opera company.
Full origin of primadonna →Frequently Asked Questions
Is it primadonna or prima donna?
Prima donna, as two words, is the standard spelling in dictionaries and in formal writing. The closed-up primadonna is very common informally, especially in the insult sense.
What is the difference between a primadonna and a diva?
Both started as opera terms for the leading soprano and both now mean a demanding person. Diva has partly turned into a compliment about glamour and star quality, while primadonna stays firmly negative and points at the tantrums.
Can a man be a primadonna?
Yes. Despite the literal meaning "first lady", the insult sense is applied to men just as often as to women, particularly in sport and business.