toad

noun

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

Illustration of toad

Illustration of toad
  • toad 1

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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 No female Weixin leaf litter toads were found, and much about the new species remains unknown. Aspen Pflughoeft, Miami Herald, 13 Aug. 2025 Giant murals with his face have gone up in the city; a few others feature Concho, the delightful toad character that’s become a staple in videos and promo from his latest album DeBÍ TiRAR MÁS FOTOS, which the show is crafted around. Julyssa Lopez, Rolling Stone, 26 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for toad

Word History

Etymology

Middle English tode, from Old English tāde, tādige

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of toad was before the 12th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Toad.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/toad. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.

Kids 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

More from Merriam-Webster on toad

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