doughboy

noun

dough·​boy ˈdō-ˌbȯi How to pronounce doughboy (audio)
Synonyms of doughboynext
: an American infantryman especially in World War I

Examples of doughboy in a Sentence

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.
The generation of sailors and doughboys discharged in 1918 had the deck stacked against them. — Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 26 Apr. 2026 Many involved great artistry, such as the doughboy statutes, but even the more simple monuments were interesting and beautiful in their own right. — Paul Eisenberg, chicagotribune.com, 14 Nov. 2021 She’s rescued by a detachment of American doughboys, led by the aforementioned Pvt. — Ben H. Winters, New York Times, 26 July 2025 Look at the recent backlash against pop singer Róisín Murphy, who is about as threatening a figure as the Pillsbury doughboy. — Bob Guccione Jr, Spin, 20 Sep. 2023 See All Example Sentences for doughboy

Word History

First Known Use

1835, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of doughboy was in 1835

Rhymes for doughboy

See All Rhymes for doughboy

Browse Nearby Words

dough box
doughboy
dougherty wagon
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Doughboy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/doughboy. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

doughboy

noun
dough·​boy ˈdō-ˌbȯi How to pronounce doughboy (audio)
: an American infantryman especially in World War I

More from Merriam-Webster on doughboy

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for doughboy

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