cartoon 1 of 2

noun

kär-ˈtün How to pronounce cartoon (audio)
Definition of cartoonnext
1
as in sketch
a picture using lines to represent the chief features of an object or scene a political cartoon mocking the state legislature

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in strip
a series of drawings that tell a story or part of a story reading the cartoons in the Sunday newspaper

Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in parody
a poor, insincere, or insulting imitation of something in this biopic the life of a complex man is reduced to a cartoon

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

cartoon

2 of 2

verb

as in to caricature

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Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of cartoon
Noun
The music is used in a scene where Alex watches his brother fight while the cartoon score plays, syncing humorously with the action. — Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 3 Oct. 2026 The Incredible Hulk, the Thing, He-Man, Superman—these cartoon heroes must fulfill some kind of longing. — Gavin Francis, The New York Review of Books, 3 Oct. 2026 Ridicule and mockery are ubiquitous in industrialized societies, from political cartoons to social media. — Christopher Von Rueden, The Conversation, 3 Oct. 2026 Perhaps like one’s heart crisply split in two, spilling its squelched juices, like the baobab fruit broken open by the stylish monkey in The Lion King, my favorite vintage cartoon. — Literary Hub, 30 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for cartoon
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cartoon
  1. sketch
  2. strip
  3. parody
  4. caricature
  5. drawing
  6. comic
  7. joke
  8. picture
Noun
  • The team’s coach, Mike Ditka, who died last week, was immortalized in a series of Saturday Night Live sketches.
    — Borys Kit, HollywoodReporter, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Canaletto expert Charles Beddington authenticated the drawing, which was likely a preparatory sketch for a painting last sold in 1995 for $354,000 (about $766,000 in today’s dollars).
    — News Desk, Artforum, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of sketch
Noun
  • Writing strips out the reactive tone that damages trust and forces people to engage with the actual argument instead of the way it was said.
    — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Both naloxone and fentanyl test strips decrease the risk of fatal overdose.
    — Joshua Barocas, The Conversation, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of strip
Noun
  • The Black performer remains the template of the parody, a canvas to characterize and deform in whatever way the meme-maker sees fit.
    — Brady Brickner-Wood, New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2026
  • Did that feel like a parody of my ego, or also a way to make fun of it?
    — Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of parody
Verb
  • However, the film has a complex legacy because of its prominent use of blackface, the theatrical makeup used to crudely caricature African Americans.
    — Britannica Editors, Encyclopedia Britannica, 30 Sep. 2026
  • In creative, advanced age is omitted or caricatured, reducing relevance before the message has a chance to work.
    — Ray Lansigan, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026
Definition of caricature
Noun
  • More than 265,000 other tickets sold in the United States also won prizes ranging from $10 to $50,000 in the drawing, the lottery said.
    — Don Sweeney, Sacbee.com, 18 Oct. 2026
  • The exhibition culminates with the Future Indicative (1977), collaging Krasner’s figure drawings.
    — John Yau, ARTnews.com, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of drawing
Noun
  • As the movie demonstrates, Macdonald’s credentials as a comic’s comic were unassailable.
    — Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Another comic, Bill Scheft, says the people who poked fun at Seinfeld still respected his craftsmanship (and were probably a little jealous of his success).
    — Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of comic
Noun
  • Its frothy, pastel hues and single moment of contrived levity (when one dance claims a trumpet solo for a joke about jamming her toe) is one of those quintessential examples of Balanchine’s repertoire showing its age.
    — Lauren Warnecke, Chicago Tribune, 18 Oct. 2026
  • And the Longhorns’ quarterback, Arch Manning, was the butt of the joke.
    — Noah White, Miami Herald, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of joke
Verb
  • According to Vogue, on display in the sunroom (presumably where Dietrich is pictured here) was a piece called Zebra and Black Panther With Cacti, signed by the artist Charles Baskerville.
    — Juliana Ukiomogbe, Architectural Digest, 16 Oct. 2026
  • That is until yachting fan King Constantine of Greece spotted an advertisement in Time magazine that pictured a Hublot against the background of a raging sea with a glimpse of sailboat in the corner.
    — Simon de Burton, Robb Report, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of picture

Browse Nearby Words

cartons
cartoon
cartooned
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Cite this Entry

“Cartoon.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cartoon. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about cartoon

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