Illustration of toad
- toad 1
1
: any of numerous anuran amphibians (especially family Bufonidae) that are distinguished from the related frogs by being more terrestrial in habit though returning to water to lay their eggs, by having a build that is squatter and shorter with weaker and shorter hind limbs, and by having skin that is rough, dry, and warty rather than smooth and moist
2
: a contemptible person or thing
Synonyms
- bastard
- beast
- bleeder [British]
- blighter [chiefly British]
- boor
- bounder
- bugger
- buzzard
- cad
- chuff
- churl
- clown
- creep
- cretin
- crud [slang]
- crumb [slang]
- cur
- dirtbag [slang]
- dog
- fink
- heel
- hound
- jerk
- joker
- louse
- lout
- pill
- rat
- rat fink
- reptile
- rotter
- schmuck [slang]
- scum
- scumbag [slang]
- scuzzball [slang]
- skunk
- sleaze
- sleazebag [slang]
- sleazeball [slang]
- slime
- slimeball [slang]
- slob
- snake
- so-and-so
- sod [chiefly British]
- stinkard
- stinker
- swine
- varmint
- vermin
Examples of toad in a Sentence
He's such a mean little toad.
that miserable toad is lucky to have even a single friend
Recent Examples on the Web
Uncovering novel biology Like other psychedelics, the one the toad produces decreases depression and anxiety and induces meaningful and spiritually significant experiences.
—
Diana Gitig, Ars Technica, 10 May 2024
Toad Homes, 2 p.m. at Potato Creek State Park: Meet at the park’s nature center for a meet and greet with the American toad.
—Karl Schneider, The Indianapolis Star, 28 Mar. 2024
Many amphibian species, such as frogs, toads, and newts, have suffered catastrophic declines over the last few decades.
—Amy Gutmann, Foreign Affairs, 16 Apr. 2018
Counterfeiters could be punished by having their ears cut off and their nostrils slit; even those who retained their services referred to them as pygmies and toads.
—Dan Piepenbring, Harper's Magazine, 26 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for toad 
Diana Gitig, Ars Technica, 10 May 2024
Toad Homes, 2 p.m. at Potato Creek State Park: Meet at the park’s nature center for a meet and greet with the American toad.
—Karl Schneider, The Indianapolis Star, 28 Mar. 2024
Many amphibian species, such as frogs, toads, and newts, have suffered catastrophic declines over the last few decades.
—Amy Gutmann, Foreign Affairs, 16 Apr. 2018
Counterfeiters could be punished by having their ears cut off and their nostrils slit; even those who retained their services referred to them as pygmies and toads.
—Dan Piepenbring, Harper's Magazine, 26 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for toad
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'toad.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Toad.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/toad. Accessed 2 Jul. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
toad
noun
: any of numerous tailless leaping amphibians that lay their eggs in water and are distinguished from the related frogs by living on land more often, by having a build that is shorter and thicker with weaker and shorter hind limbs, and by having skin that is rough, dry and warty rather than smooth and moist
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