milquetoast

[milk-tohst]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR milquetoast ON THESAURUS.COM

noun (sometimes initial capital letter)

a very timid, unassertive, spineless person, especially one who is easily dominated or intimidated: a milquetoast who's afraid to ask for a raise.

Origin of milquetoast

1935–40, Americanism; after Caspar Milquetoast, a character in The Timid Soul, comic strip by H. T. Webster (1885–1952), American cartoonist

Also called Caspar Milquetoast.

Can be confusedmilk toast milquetoast

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for milquetoast

suckling, bairn, newborn, milksop, tot, mollycoddle, toddler, youngster, nursling, babe, nipper, bambino, bundle, child, dividend, kid, boy, button, deduction, chick

Examples from the Web for milquetoast

Contemporary Examples of milquetoast

Either way, he stood out in a country whose media industry is often criticized for its milquetoast manner.
Canada’s Subversive Sock Puppet: Ed the Sock Isn’t Afraid to Say Anything
Soraya Roberts
November 13, 2014
Hence, all the agreeing with Obama, all the adopting of milquetoast positions.
Debate III: Obama Wins, But Does It Do Him Any Good?
Michael Tomasky
October 23, 2012
In contrast, Santorum's milquetoast “disagreement” looks pathetic and unpresidential.
“Get Out!” Says Christian-Supremacist Pastor. Does Rick Santorum Agree?
Jay Michaelson
March 20, 2012
Is anybody planning on running a repeat of Milquetoast and the Crazies again?
Readers like GOP Rules, Just Not the Candidates
Ryan Prior
March 13, 2012
Gingrich has tried to depict Romney a milquetoast moderate in the line of former state governor Charlie Crist.
A Florida Win Will Make Headlines, But What About the Delegates?
Matthew DeLuca
January 27, 2012

British Dictionary definitions for milquetoast

milquetoast

noun

US and Canadian a meek, submissive, or timid person

Word Origin for milquetoast

C20: from Caspar Milquetoast, a cartoon character invented by H. T. Webster (1885–1952)

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for milquetoast

"timid, meek person," 1938, from Caspar Milquetoast, character created by U.S. newspaper cartoonist H.T. Webster (1885-1952) in the strip "The Timid Soul," which ran from 1924 in the "New York World" and later the "Herald Tribune." By 1930 the name was being referenced as a type of the meek man. The form seems to be milktoast with an added French twist; cf. also milksop.