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
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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
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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of cartoon
Browse a gallery of our favorite basketball cartoons.
—
Austin Elias-De Jesus, New Yorker, 3 June 2026
Americans of Kokopeli’s vintage are old enough to remember TV-watching as restricted by the times shows went on-air, by the channels their parents paid for, and by the public service announcements they were forced to get through during morning cartoons.
—Theo Belci, Artforum, 2 June 2026
The movie is clearly aimed at a certain audience who watched Saturday morning cartoons back in the day and, if their He-Man figure’s arm broke off, would use Faker as their resident Eternian hero.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 2 June 2026
The Dev Box looks a little like a cartoon anvil or piano fell onto an Xbox Series X and flattened it.
—Andrew Cunningham, ArsTechnica, 2 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for cartoon
Austin Elias-De Jesus, New Yorker, 3 June 2026
Americans of Kokopeli’s vintage are old enough to remember TV-watching as restricted by the times shows went on-air, by the channels their parents paid for, and by the public service announcements they were forced to get through during morning cartoons.
—Theo Belci, Artforum, 2 June 2026
The movie is clearly aimed at a certain audience who watched Saturday morning cartoons back in the day and, if their He-Man figure’s arm broke off, would use Faker as their resident Eternian hero.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 2 June 2026
The Dev Box looks a little like a cartoon anvil or piano fell onto an Xbox Series X and flattened it.
—Andrew Cunningham, ArsTechnica, 2 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for cartoon
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cartoon
Noun
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Especially because what a sketch wants, to be really funny, can sometimes scale.—
Sarah Shachat,
IndieWire,
9 June 2026
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These sketches are all hand-drawn.—
Jeremy Rellosa,
Curbed,
9 June 2026
Noun
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Maps show the 900 block is five lanes wide and traverses a heavily commercial strip in north Washington, including multiple motels, stores and restaurants.—
Mark Price,
Charlotte Observer,
4 June 2026
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The invention that Edison brought into the offices of Scientific American also used sound vibrations to make a needle vibrate—in his case, by digging grooves into a strip of tinfoil or paper that was embossed with wax.—
Ron Cowen,
Scientific American,
3 June 2026
Noun
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Her opening number, a parody of her Moulin Rouge!—
Jason P. Frank,
Vulture,
8 June 2026
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Published in 1811, the novel is greeted as a parody of sensibility.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
8 June 2026
Noun
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Displays show campaign ephemera and memorabilia, from Shepard Fairey’s iconic HOPE poster to children’s drawings.—
Jacqui Palumbo,
CNN Money,
4 June 2026
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The Supreme Court in that case found that Louisiana’s drawing of its own congressional maps was a racial gerrymander in its creation of a second majority-Black district.—
Dan Mangan,
CNBC,
3 June 2026
Noun
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Also, as the birthplace of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, the museum features a gallery of artwork from the famous comic's local creators.—
USA TODAY Network,
USA Today,
10 June 2026
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Legendary comic Jeff Foxworthy released his new stand-up comedy special, The Joke’s On Me, on June 1 with Fox News media streaming service, Fox Nation.—
Judith Y. Kim,
The Washington Examiner,
7 June 2026
Noun
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Perhaps nothing about Barber’s article, nor the caricature printed alongside it, came as much of a surprise to Spark.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
9 June 2026
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But the caricature never quite contained her.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
6 June 2026
Noun
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If there was a pop culture gallery of villainy, the portrait of Regina George would occupy a prominent place.—
David L. Coddon,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
29 May 2026
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Five rare portraits of Marilyn Monroe from 1949, captured before her name change and signature platinum look, are being auctioned to mark her centennial.—
Katie Simons,
Los Angeles Times,
29 May 2026
Noun
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Lowbrow sources such as Sunday funnies, B movies, and advertisements are present but are more diffuse, rarely coalescing into obvious quotation.—
Jeremy Lybarger,
Artforum,
2 June 2026
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The show is laugh-out-loud funny.—
Rebecca Rubin,
Variety,
2 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Cartoon.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cartoon. Accessed 11 Jun. 2026.
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