CARTOON Synonyms: 65 Similar and Opposite Words

cartoon 1 of 2

noun

kär-ˈtün

Definition of cartoon

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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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

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

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

Leon Schlesinger, the head honcho of Warner cartoons, is smoking a cigar and rips up Porky’s contract. — James Grebey, Vulture, 25 Aug. 2026 The characters look similar to real humans and lack the typical cartoon characteristics such as outsize heads, large eyes, and quirky hairstyles. — Jordana Rosenfeld, Encyclopedia Britannica, 24 Aug. 2026 For three decades, the cartoon superhero has endeared himself to generations — including Isbel’s son, Lane. — Kansas City Star, 22 Aug. 2026 My phone lights up with a new text, and my heart lights up, too, a fresh lime dropping into a cold bottle of beer, a bursting balloon, a cartoon lightbulb flicking on with sudden, radiant intensity. — Literary Hub, 21 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for cartoon

Recent Examples of Synonyms for cartoon

Noun

The 2017 sketch sees Matt Damon claiming to be the father of Kimmel’s child with wife Molly McNearney, and Povich was supposed to adjudicate the dispute.

— Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 22 Aug. 2026
For pet parents who could get their pups to sit still for long enough, a portrait artist was doing colorful sketches.

— Bridget Byrne, Baltimore Sun, 22 Aug. 2026

Definition of sketch

Noun

Line pan with a 9-inch-wide strip of parchment paper, extending the parchment over the two long sides of pan (to lift the bread from the pan after baking).

— Better Homes & Gardens, Better Homes & Gardens, 23 Aug. 2026
However, in the ’90s, it was relocated to Devon Avenue — the Far North Side street famous for its strip of South Asian businesses known as Little India.

— Evgenia Anastasakos, Chicago Tribune, 23 Aug. 2026

Definition of strip

Noun

Both shows make use of the parody defense, of course, that being the sly way for comedic artists to cash in on someone else’s intellectual property by insisting that their motives are honorably satirical.

— Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 24 Aug. 2026
Watch Sioux Falls’ parody on the Austin and Colin YouTube channel or visit their website.

— Angela George, Sioux Falls Argus Leader, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of parody

Verb

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
Nevin remembered the songwriter as a melancholic genius, and insisted that Foster did not merely caricature Black Americans but used their vernacular to convey universal themes.

— David A. Graham, The Atlantic, 2 July 2026

Definition of caricature

Noun

Lottery officials have not yet announced whether a ticket matched all six numbers in the latest drawing, leaving players across the country waiting to see if a new multimillionaire has been made.

— Fernando Cervantes Jr, USA Today, 22 Aug. 2026
These guardrails have long constrained the drawing of congressional maps.

— Yuripzy Morgan, Baltimore Sun, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of drawing

Noun

That mentality means that the Emmys won’t just be a coming-out party for Hargitay as a sketch comic.

— Daniel D'Addario, Variety, 19 Aug. 2026
Midge’s story unfurled in 8-page increments in Naughty Bits, a periodical comic from Fantagraphics anthologizing Gregory’s work, which ran 40 issues from 1991-2004.

— Rob Salkowitz, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 2026

Definition of comic

Noun

Now the adults are growing up a little bit, and that adds depth to the show but doesn’t sacrifice jokes.

— Emily Gould, Vulture, 24 Aug. 2026
His cutlery’s subtly unusual proportions manage to be elegant and playful at the same time, like that perfect joke that lands gracefully at a cocktail party, where everyone laughs and nobody chortles.

— Emily Watlington, ARTnews.com, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of joke

Verb

Sound’s Round 2 Impresario-musician Mike Reed’s multigenre, multivenue festival, Sound & Gravity, returns for its second year with acts like Son Lux (pictured, above) and Chicago’s Jessica Risker.

— Web Behrens, Chicago Tribune, 25 Aug. 2026
The person seen dropping off the Acura was pictured only in grainy video and appeared to be wearing a shirt without sleeves.

— Michael Ruiz, FOXNews.com, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of picture

Browse Nearby Words

cartons

cartoon

cartooned

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Articles Related to cartoon

Cite this Entry

Style

“Cartoon.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cartoon. Accessed 27 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of cartoon

noun

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

webtoon

'Cartoon': Not Just For Kids

Tulip/Turban, Cloak/Clock, & 8...

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