diva
diva Lexical Profile
diva Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A famous, glamorous, or self-important person who is notoriously temperamental, demanding, and difficult to please.
"The director struggled to manage the lead actor, who acted like a total diva whenever his dressing room wasn't prepared to his exact specifications."
A celebrated female singer of outstanding talent, especially in the world of opera, or in popular, soul, or jazz music.
"The renowned opera diva received a ten-minute standing ovation after her breathtaking performance at the Metropolitan Opera."
Word Nuance & Usage
While originally a term of high praise for a celebrated female opera singer, in contemporary informal usage 'diva' often carries a mildly pejorative connotation describing someone who is temperamental, high-maintenance, or overly demanding.
• Rhymes for diva
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed in the late 19th century from Italian 'diva', meaning 'goddess' or 'fine lady', which derives from the Latin 'diva' (goddess), the feminine form of 'divus' (divine).