milquetoast

American  

[milk-tohst] / ˈmɪlkˌtoʊst /

noun

(sometimes initial capital letter)

1. a very timid, unassertive, spineless person, especially one who is easily dominated or intimidated.

   a milquetoast who's afraid to ask for a raise.

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milquetoast British  

/ ˈmɪlkˌtəʊst /

noun

1. a meek, submissive, or timid person

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Etymology

Origin of milquetoast

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

Example Sentences

The 85-year-old label, tagged by the Observer as once being “synonymous with a particularly milquetoast suburban sensibility,” today posts fast-growing sales among famously fickle Gen Z shoppers.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 25, 2026

When longtime announcer Don Pardo asks Kroeger’s milquetoast contender, “When is the next reappearance of Halley’s Comet scheduled?” a buzzer instantly cuts him off.

From Salon • Feb. 22, 2026

It’s a clip so milquetoast and lacking in moral clarity it’s cringe-inducing to watch.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 7, 2024

Shahid is a milquetoast in designer casual wear.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 5, 2023

In the long run, though, this New York prosecution may be remembered as little more than a milquetoast appetizer ahead of potential federal charges.

From Slate • Apr. 8, 2023

Related Words

• milksop
• mollycoddle
• pushover