1 milquetoast | Definition of milquetoast
Logo
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

milquetoast

noun
milque·​toast | \ ˈmilk-ˌtōst How to pronounce milquetoast (audio) \

Definition of milquetoast

: a timid, meek, or unassertive person
Why is it milquetoast, and not milk toast? Example Sentences Learn More about milquetoast

Keep scrolling for more

Why is it milquetoast, and not milk toast?

Caspar Milquetoast was a comic strip character created in 1924 by the American cartoonist Harold T. Webster. The strip, called "The Timid Soul," ran every Sunday in the New York Herald Tribune for many years. Webster, who claimed that Milquetoast was a self-portrait, summed up the character as "the man who speaks softly and gets hit with a big stick." The earliest examples for Milquetoast used as a generic synonym for "timid person" date from the mid-1930s. Caspar's last name might remind you of "milk toast," a bland concoction of buttered toast served in a dish of warm milk.

Examples of milquetoast in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

 One Paseo, unfortunately, is essentially a milquetoast mall with a parking problem. — San Diego Union-Tribune, "Review: A love affair with Michael Mina’s cooking heats up with International Smoke," 22 Aug. 2019 The show is low on ongoing intrigue and the milquetoast episodic plotlines range from more bland intimate cases meant to expose character details to a generic car chase ring meant to facilitate car chases. — Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, "'Bulletproof': TV Review," 6 Aug. 2019 Jadeveon Clowney will end his milquetoast, barb-free holdout in typical holdout-ending fashion. — Conor Orr, SI.com, "OK, OK, But How Much Would Tom Brady Get From a New Team in Free Agency?," 6 Aug. 2019 Jesse Eisenberg stars as Casey, a quintessential modern milquetoast. — Ty Burr, BostonGlobe.com, "Jesse Eisenberg chooses fight over flight, in ‘The Art of Self-Defense’," 17 July 2019 The hippest act Hess remembers playing at the Eisenhower White House was the milquetoast Fred Waring and his Pennsylvanians. — Wil Haygood, Town & Country, "The Best (and Worst) White House Parties of All Time," 1 Jan. 2013 There is something a little milquetoast and benign about that phrase. — New York Times, "Paul Rudd, Larger Than Life but Still Nice," 6 July 2018 People can sometimes mistake Nat’s music as this sweet, idealized milquetoast. — Howard Reich, chicagotribune.com, "Gregory Porter taps the music of Nat King Cole," 7 June 2018 His milquetoast Light Beer 007 probably won't excite drinkers chasing trendy IPAs, but the ale showcases the broad-strokes flavors of pale malt and bright hops in an approachable way. — John Verive, latimes.com, "Common Space Brewery and tap room opens in Hawthorne with plenty of promising brews," 6 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'milquetoast.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

See More

First Known Use of milquetoast

1935, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for milquetoast

Caspar Milquetoast, comic strip character created by H. T. Webster †1952 American cartoonist

Keep scrolling for more

WORD OF THE DAY

See Definitions and Examples

Get Word of the Day daily email!