toad

noun

ˈtōd 

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

• toad 1

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

This involves some high school kids, single parents, a maid, a dog, and hallucinogenic toads. —Brian Boone, Vulture, 18 June 2025

Galium odoratum Sun Exposure: Deep shade Soil Type: Clay, loam, sand Soil pH: Acidic Toad Lily The toad lily is a showy, shade-loving perennial with small orchid-like flowers in zones 4a-9b. —Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 4 June 2025

Their advice can help turn any garden into a safe haven for frogs and toads. —Anne Readel, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 May 2025

Being mindful of soil health assists with creating beneficial habitats above and below surface for toads, worms, lizards and microlife. —Lana Bortolot, Forbes.com, 22 Apr. 2025

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

Phrases Containing toad

• African clawed toad
• cane toad
• clawed toad
• giant toad
• horned toad
• marine toad
• spadefoot toad
• toad-in-the-hole
• tree toad

Rhymes for toad

• blowed
• bode
• code
• crowed
• flowed
• glowed
• goad
• growed
• knowed
• load
• lode
• lowed

Kids Definition

toad

noun

ˈtōd 

: 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