1
as in drawings
a picture using lines to represent the chief features of an object or scene
a political cartoon mocking the state legislature
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in strips
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 parodies
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
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 cartoons
Dan Gooding, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Oct. 2025
But Looney Tunes, one of Warner’s most recognizable intellectual properties, never felt like premium programming on Zaslav’s streamer, which was likelier to bury classic cartoons under rows upon rows of Discovery+ content and House of the Dragon promos.
—Eric Vilas-Boas, Vulture, 24 Oct. 2025
Post-Dispatch news stories, editorials and political cartoons championed the values of cleaner air and the dangers of toxic pollution.
—Robert Wyss, The Conversation, 21 Oct. 2025
Animated characters like Tony the Tiger, Count Chocula and Fred Flintstone blurred the line between ads and morning cartoons.
—Alice Callahan, New York Times, 16 Oct. 2025
Rietz prepared accordingly, downloading some podcasts to her phone for herself, along with some cartoons, which were part of her 4-year-old daughter’s weekend routine.
—Nathan Diller, USA Today, 16 Oct. 2025
That could be in cartoons, video games, books, television shows, movies and, yes, music.
—George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Oct. 2025
In the past, The Observer has won multiple Pulitizer Prizes, including two for public service and three for editorial cartoons.
—Charlotte Observer, 12 Oct. 2025
Without acknowledging it, this bookstore is a synthesis of every experiment in children’s literature from Babar the Elephant and the Pere Castor series in France to Mickey Mouse and cartoons in the United States, via innovative graphic design in Czechoslovakia and Russia in the interwar period.
—Literary Hub, 2 Oct. 2025
Verb
These often casual racist depictions lasted well into the 20th century through mediums such as political cartoons, sports commentary and other popular culture.
—Dan Gooding, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Oct. 2025
But Looney Tunes, one of Warner’s most recognizable intellectual properties, never felt like premium programming on Zaslav’s streamer, which was likelier to bury classic cartoons under rows upon rows of Discovery+ content and House of the Dragon promos.
—Eric Vilas-Boas, Vulture, 24 Oct. 2025
Post-Dispatch news stories, editorials and political cartoons championed the values of cleaner air and the dangers of toxic pollution.
—Robert Wyss, The Conversation, 21 Oct. 2025
Animated characters like Tony the Tiger, Count Chocula and Fred Flintstone blurred the line between ads and morning cartoons.
—Alice Callahan, New York Times, 16 Oct. 2025
Rietz prepared accordingly, downloading some podcasts to her phone for herself, along with some cartoons, which were part of her 4-year-old daughter’s weekend routine.
—Nathan Diller, USA Today, 16 Oct. 2025
That could be in cartoons, video games, books, television shows, movies and, yes, music.
—George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Oct. 2025
In the past, The Observer has won multiple Pulitizer Prizes, including two for public service and three for editorial cartoons.
—Charlotte Observer, 12 Oct. 2025
Without acknowledging it, this bookstore is a synthesis of every experiment in children’s literature from Babar the Elephant and the Pere Castor series in France to Mickey Mouse and cartoons in the United States, via innovative graphic design in Czechoslovakia and Russia in the interwar period.
—Literary Hub, 2 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cartoons
Noun
-
There are notebooks covered in Paulsen’s thin scrawl and play drawings everywhere.—
Jourdan Rodrigue,
New York Times,
25 Oct. 2025
-
Winning Triple Twist numbers 03-08-11-13-22-32 Check Triple Twist payouts and previous drawings here.—
Lorenzino Estrada,
AZCentral.com,
25 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
As fans of Zaxbys' Zalads know, the Asian Zensation Zalad is one of the restaurant's healthiest lunch options with its combination of chicken, greens, crispy wonton strips, and slaw topped with a citrus-spiked vinaigrette.—
Melissa Locker,
Southern Living,
28 Oct. 2025
-
Using a pizza cutter, cut dough lengthwise into 8 equal strips; cut strips in half (making 16 strips in total), and then cut lengthwise in half again to make 32 (½-inch-wide) thin strips.—
Sabrina Weiss,
PEOPLE,
28 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Death, of course, is never permanent in slasher movies, or parodies of slasher movies, for that matter.—
Skyler Trepel,
Entertainment Weekly,
19 Oct. 2025
-
Pop-culture figures like Frankenstein, Dracula, and the Wolfman are so ubiquitous as to be both movie characters and parodies of themselves, and this DuckTales episode is good for any kids that like monsters but aren’t quite ready to be menaced by them yet.—
Daniel Dockery,
Vulture,
17 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Specialty cocktails flowed throughout the night, while Unfortunate Portrait created live custom sketches, bringing a playful touch.—
Ryma Chikhoune,
Footwear News,
27 Oct. 2025
-
The bright bubblegum-pink design has green sketches of the movie’s most iconic characters, including Glinda, Elphaba, Madame Morrible, and the Cowardly Lion, while gold accents add extra shine to the dishwasher-safe cup.—
Jacqueline Tempera,
PEOPLE,
26 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Performers milled on the street with bobbing paper mache heads of Uncle Sam and other caricatures.—
Neda Ulaby,
NPR,
6 Oct. 2025
-
The characters are bright, marionette-like caricatures whom the author constructs and moves ostentatiously in full view of the reader, revealing his artistic devices with a sense of absurd, mischievous humor.—
Nelly Klos
September 29,
Literary Hub,
29 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Strachan pictures the multi-colored gemstones (less summer, more fall) complementing collarless coats, cashmere crewneck sweaters, and white button-up shirts.—
Cortne Bonilla,
Vogue,
25 Sep. 2025
-
Only the last photo during the end credits pictures the fiery aftermath of Hutch’s ultimate battle with Ladeena.—
Tim Lammers,
Forbes.com,
16 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Franco-Chinese painter Xie Lei, known for his dreamlike portraits of ghostly, ambiguous figures adrift in dark spaces, has been announced as the winner of this year’s Prix Marcel Duchamp, France’s most prestigious contemporary art prize.—
News Desk,
Artforum,
27 Oct. 2025
-
In the months since, more portraits in more opulent and baroque frames, and added decorative ornaments in shiny gold — including wall finials and fireplace accents — have been added.—
Stephanie Sengwe,
PEOPLE,
27 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Green is known for speaking his mind, talking candidly, and cracking jokes at the expense of others.—
Nelson Espinal,
MSNBC Newsweek,
22 Oct. 2025
-
Bill Oakley has been making jokes about food for more than half his life.—
Rachel Bernhard,
jsonline.com,
21 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Cartoons.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cartoons. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share