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
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
One shows a person holding a toad, with filter effects including lightning and fire.
—
Marni Rose McFall, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Sep. 2025
Plumier explains what each species looks and sounds like, so the group doesn’t accidentally spear an endangered crawfish frog or an unassuming toad.
—Sophie Hartley, IndyStar, 9 Sep. 2025
Don’t count out annual flowers such as dahlias, zinnias and Bolivian verbena and even some non-native autumn bloomers such as toad lilies.
—Beth Botts, Chicago Tribune, 23 Aug. 2025
Holding a Sonoran Desert toad and squeezing the slimy glands on its head to extract its toxic secretions is a strange experience.
—Christopher Timmermann, Big Think, 20 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for toad
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Marni Rose McFall, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Sep. 2025
Plumier explains what each species looks and sounds like, so the group doesn’t accidentally spear an endangered crawfish frog or an unassuming toad.
—Sophie Hartley, IndyStar, 9 Sep. 2025
Don’t count out annual flowers such as dahlias, zinnias and Bolivian verbena and even some non-native autumn bloomers such as toad lilies.
—Beth Botts, Chicago Tribune, 23 Aug. 2025
Holding a Sonoran Desert toad and squeezing the slimy glands on its head to extract its toxic secretions is a strange experience.
—Christopher Timmermann, Big Think, 20 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for toad
Cite this Entry
“Toad.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/toad. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
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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