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
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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of cartoons
Marta Balaga, Variety, 6 Sep. 2025
This author has previously reported on whether Disney’s Marvel movies, Lucasfilm productions and live action remakes of its classic cartoons were over or under budget.
—Caroline Reid, Forbes.com, 6 Sep. 2025
The film looks at the key role of political cartoons in global democracies, the decline of the profession amid a newspaper industry meltdown and the effects of extreme political partisanship on media and editorial cartooning.
—Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 5 Sep. 2025
Want to stream cartoons on a Saturday morning like the old days (but via modern technology)?
—Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2025
As such, here are Entertainment Weekly’s picks for the 20 best ’80s cartoons to rewatch this Saturday morning.
—Will Harris, EW.com, 1 Sep. 2025
Comedians and commentators skewered the government's performance—from satirical news shows to editorial cartoons, the cultural zeitgeist skewed toward outrage.
—Jesus Mesa, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Aug. 2025
Think papier-mâché masks, felt or satin jumpsuits, and character costumes from classic movies or cartoons.
—Elizabeth Fogarty, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 Aug. 2025
This year, the festival-goers will have their pick of over 200 films, networking events, parties, panel discussions, and even a session of retro Saturday morning cartoons.
—Rebecca Angel Baer, Southern Living, 21 Aug. 2025
Verb
Niedenthal’s photo of a cinema playing ‘Apocalypse Now’ while the apocalypse is happening on the streets, the carp in the bathtub, the girl who wants to watch cartoons in the morning but [political leader] General Jaruzelski is on TV.
—Marta Balaga, Variety, 6 Sep. 2025
This author has previously reported on whether Disney’s Marvel movies, Lucasfilm productions and live action remakes of its classic cartoons were over or under budget.
—Caroline Reid, Forbes.com, 6 Sep. 2025
The film looks at the key role of political cartoons in global democracies, the decline of the profession amid a newspaper industry meltdown and the effects of extreme political partisanship on media and editorial cartooning.
—Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 5 Sep. 2025
Want to stream cartoons on a Saturday morning like the old days (but via modern technology)?
—Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2025
As such, here are Entertainment Weekly’s picks for the 20 best ’80s cartoons to rewatch this Saturday morning.
—Will Harris, EW.com, 1 Sep. 2025
Comedians and commentators skewered the government's performance—from satirical news shows to editorial cartoons, the cultural zeitgeist skewed toward outrage.
—Jesus Mesa, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Aug. 2025
Think papier-mâché masks, felt or satin jumpsuits, and character costumes from classic movies or cartoons.
—Elizabeth Fogarty, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 Aug. 2025
This year, the festival-goers will have their pick of over 200 films, networking events, parties, panel discussions, and even a session of retro Saturday morning cartoons.
—Rebecca Angel Baer, Southern Living, 21 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cartoons
Noun
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By 2 payouts and previous drawings here.—
Jay Cannon,
USA Today,
13 Sep. 2025
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Transcripts, grammars, vocabularies, dictionaries, glyph studies, botanical studies, commentaries, articles, editions of codices, correspondence, maps, charts, drawings, photographs, Maya Society materials, genealogies of Maya families, and Mayan glyphs on moveable type.—
The Editors,
JSTOR Daily,
12 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Winocour does better with some of the specifics, like the red adhesive biopsy strips placed around Maxine’s breasts, mirroring the patterning tape on mannequins in the workshop.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
8 Sep. 2025
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The adhesive strips on these nursing pads help keep them in place, even throughout the night.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
5 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Last year, in response to some political parodies that used images created by artificial intelligence, including one that pilloried Vice President Kamala Harris, the Legislature passed and Newsom signed two measures to outlaw such tomfoolery.—
Dan Walters,
Mercury News,
5 Sep. 2025
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Kaufman and Herz co-founded Troma Entertainment in 1974, which has produced or distributed more than 1,000 low-budget parodies in the past five decades, including the original Toxic Avenger movie in 1984.—
Tim Lammers,
Forbes.com,
29 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Coppola sat down with hairstylist Odile Gilbert to root through boxes of sketches and press photos of her work with Lagerfeld at Chanel.—
Joelle Diderich,
Footwear News,
8 Sep. 2025
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Please Don’t Destroy will still work together outside of the show, but the sketches will end, with John Higgins exiting the show and Martin Herlihy continuing on as a writer.—
Alex Weprin,
HollywoodReporter,
8 Sep. 2025
Noun
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The director was careful to avoid creating caricatures of religious figures.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
6 Sep. 2025
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The same red flannel was often featured in caricatures of Mammy.—
Danielle Amir Jackson,
The Atlantic,
4 Sep. 2025
Verb
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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
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Being a subject of one of his portraits required discipline—showing up for many months, staying still for many hours.—
Rebecca Mead,
New Yorker,
8 Sep. 2025
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Directed and photographed by Stuart Winecoff with creative direction from Robert Lussier, The Style Council, Paris, the films and portraits follow Ludacris, Alba, McCaffrey, and Moore through John Lautner’s Harvey House in Los Angeles, known for its lush midcentury interiors.—
Thomas Waller,
Footwear News,
8 Sep. 2025
Noun
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That means having to cut jokes that don't fit his do-no-harm MO.—
Erin Jensen,
USA Today,
11 Sep. 2025
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His voice is exuberant, especially when cracking jokes.—
Duaa Eldeib,
ProPublica,
10 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Cartoons.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cartoons. Accessed 15 Sep. 2025.
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