cartoon
cartoon
Pronunciation
/kɑːrˈtuːn/.
First Syllable: /kɑːr/
/k/: Voiceless velar plosive (as in "cat")
/ɑː/: Open back unrounded vowel (as in "father")
/r/: Voiced alveolar approximant (as in "red")
Second Syllable: /tuːn/
/t/: Voiceless alveolar plosive (as in "top")
/uː/: Close back rounded vowel (as in "moon")
/n/: Voiced alveolar nasal (as in "nose")
Word Form Variations
Noun:
Singular: cartoon (e.g., "I watched a funny cartoon.")
Plural: cartoons (e.g., "The kids love watching cartoons on Saturday mornings.")
Verb:
Base Form/Infinitive: cartoon (e.g., "He likes to cartoon political figures.")
Third-person singular present: cartoons (e.g., "She cartoons for the local newspaper.")
Present Participle/Gerund: cartooning (e.g., "Cartooning is a popular hobby." or "He is cartooning a new character.")
Past Simple: cartooned (e.g., "The artist cartooned the mayor in the editorial section.")
Past Participle: cartooned (e.g., "The event was cartooned in several publications.")
Adjective (derived forms):
cartoonish (e.g., "His expressions were often cartoonish.")
cartoony (e.g., "It was a very cartoony animation style.")
cartoonlike (e.g., "The character had a cartoonlike appearance.")
cartooned (can also function as an adjective, meaning "rendered in the style of a cartoon," e.g., "a cartooned image")
Adverb:
There isn't a direct adverbial form like "cartoonly." However, you can use phrases or the adjectival forms with "-ly" to describe something in a cartoon-like manner. For example:
"He spoke in a cartoonish way."
"The movements were exaggerated cartoonishly."
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
A humorous or satirical drawing, often published in newspapers or magazines, that depicts a current event, political figure, or social issue in an exaggerated or symbolic way.
Synonyms: caricature, satire, editorial cartoon, political cartoon, lampoon
Antonyms: photograph, realistic depiction, factual report
An animated film or television program, typically aimed at children, featuring drawings or computer-generated images that are made to appear as if they are moving.
Synonyms: animation, animated feature, animated series, toon (informal)
Antonyms: live-action film, documentary, reality show
A preliminary sketch or drawing for a painting, fresco, tapestry, or stained-glass window, used to transfer the design to the final medium.
Synonyms: sketch, draft, study, template, blueprint
Antonyms: finished work, final product, masterpiece
Verb
To draw or create a humorous or satirical illustration of someone or something, often exaggerating their features or characteristics.
Synonyms: caricature, satirize, lampoon, burlesque, mock
Antonyms: portray accurately, depict realistically, photograph
To animate or produce an animated film or series.
Synonyms: animate, illustrate, draw (for animation), render (in animation)
Antonyms: film (live-action), direct (live-action), shoot (live-action)
Adjective (Derived Forms)
Cartoonish: Resembling or characteristic of a cartoon, often implying exaggeration, simplicity, or a lack of realism.
Synonyms: exaggerated, over-the-top, goofy, outlandish, simplistic, unrealistic
Antonyms: realistic, lifelike, natural, understated, subtle
Cartoony: Informal term similar to "cartoonish," often used to describe a style that is overtly in the manner of a cartoon, typically playful or vibrant.
Synonyms: animated, lively, vibrant, whimsical, simplified
Antonyms: serious, detailed, complex, gritty, realistic
Cartoonlike: Possessing qualities or an appearance similar to that found in a cartoon.
Synonyms: animated-style, illustrative, stylized, graphic
Antonyms: authentic, genuine, true-to-life, verbatim
Adverb
While there isn't a direct adverb "cartoonly," the adjectival forms can be used adverbially with "-ly" or through descriptive phrases.
Cartoonishly: In a manner that is exaggerated, simplistic, or characteristic of a cartoon.
Synonyms: exaggeratedly, ludicrously, absurdly, comically, whimsically
Antonyms: realistically, subtly, naturally, accurately
Examples of Use
Books
"The cartoon on the front page perfectly captured the absurdities of the election campaign." (Example from a fictional political commentary book)
"In his memoir, the animator described how he spent countless hours drawing frames for the early Mickey Mouse cartoons." (Example from a biography)
"The children's book was filled with vibrant, cartoony illustrations that brought the fantastical characters to life." (Example from a children's literature review)
Newspapers
"Local artist's cartoon depicting city council meeting sparks controversy." (Headline from a local newspaper, The Daily Sentinel, May 15, 2024)
"The editorial page featured a scathing cartoon that lampooned the rising cost of living." (The Guardian, June 28, 2025)
"Critics lauded the newspaper for its bold decision to run the cartoonish caricature of the president." (The New York Times, April 10, 2025)
Online Publications
"BuzzFeed News published a gallery of the most viral internet cartoons of the year." (BuzzFeed News, December 20, 2024)
"Artist explains process of cartooning complex scientific concepts for public understanding." (Wired.com, March 7, 2025)
"The cartoon short gained millions of views on YouTube within hours of its release." (Mashable.com, June 1, 2025)
Entertainment Mediums and Platforms
"Classic Looney Tunes cartoons are now available for streaming on Max." (Advertisement for a streaming service)
"The new superhero movie features a surprisingly cartoonish villain, which lightens the tone." (Film review on Rotten Tomatoes, June 25, 2025)
"During Comic-Con, the panel discussed the future of adult animation and where new cartoons are heading." (Report from Comic-Con International, July 2024)
"I spent my childhood watching Saturday morning cartoons." (Common phrase used in interviews or casual conversations about nostalgia)
General Public Discourse
"He's got a sort of cartoonish way of walking, all bouncy and exaggerated." (Everyday conversation)
"Don't be so cartoony with your expressions; try to be more subtle." (Advice given to an actor or performer)
"That situation was so absurd, it felt like something out of a cartoon." (Figurative language in casual conversation)
"The politician's promises were so grand and unrealistic, they sounded like something a cartoon character would say." (Public commentary)
"The museum exhibit included several of the original cartoons that Michelangelo drew for the Sistine Chapel ceiling." (Tour guide explanation at a museum)
10 Famous Quotes Using Cartoon
"A good cartoon is a two-dimensional world, created in the mind of the artist and lived in the mind of the viewer." (Walt Disney)
"Humor is the great thing, the saving thing. The minute it crops up, all our hardnesses yield, all our resentments vanish, and a sunny spirit takes their place." (Mark Twain, often associated with the spirit of cartooning and satire, though not using the word directly, it captures the essence)
"I love cartoons. I watch them all the time. I'm a big fan of 'Family Guy' and 'The Simpsons.'" (Mila Kunis)
"Life is like a cartoon. When you fall, you don't break your bones, but you do get a little dizzy." (Unknown, widely shared internet meme/quote)
"A cartoon is not a photograph. It's a drawing of a thought." (Charles M. Schulz)
"You look like a cartoon character from some sort of, like, really off-brand, cheap Saturday morning cartoon." (From the TV show Community, spoken by Annie Edison)
"I grew up watching the old Warner Bros. cartoons, which were phenomenal. They were really funny." (Seth MacFarlane)
"My life is just like a cartoon. Every time I think I'm going to do something normal, something ridiculous happens." (Unknown, a common sentiment expressed in various online contexts)
"Political cartoons are the journalism of exaggeration." (Steve Bell, British political cartoonist)
"There's a lot of things that can be said through a cartoon that can't be said through any other medium." (Matt Groening)
Etymology
The word "cartoon" has a fascinating journey through art history before it became the common term for animated shows or funny drawings in newspapers.
Its origin goes back to the Italian word "cartone," which meant "strong, heavy paper" or "pasteboard." This "cartone" was the type of sturdy paper that artists in the 17th century (around the late 1600s) used to make full-sized preliminary drawings for larger artworks. Imagine a huge painting for a church wall, a stained-glass window, or a tapestry – the artist would first draw the entire design on this heavy paper. This preliminary drawing was what was initially called a "cartoon" in English.
So, the first known use of "cartoon" in English, dating back to the late 1600s (before 1684 according to the OED), referred to these large, preparatory drawings that served as a guide or template for a final piece of fine art. It was purely a term from the art world.
The word then evolved in the 19th century. In 1843, the famous British humor magazine Punch humorously used the term "cartoon" to describe its satirical drawings. They were making fun of the grand, serious "cartoons" (preparatory drawings) being made for the new Palace of Westminster. This ironic use caught on, and "cartoon" quickly became associated with humorous or satirical drawings in magazines and newspapers.
Finally, in the early 20th century (around 1916), as animated films began to emerge, the word "cartoon" was applied to these moving drawings, likely due to their visual similarity to the print cartoons already in newspapers.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Cartoon
Here's a list of phrases and idioms using "cartoon" or closely related concepts for similar effect:
Like something out of a cartoon: Describing a situation or event that is so outlandish, exaggerated, or absurd that it seems unreal, as if it belongs in an animated world.
Example: "His fall down the stairs was so clumsy, it was like something out of a cartoon."
Cartoon logic: Referring to a lack of realistic consequences or an adherence to the physics and rules often found in animated features, where characters might survive impossible situations.
Example: "In this movie, the hero seems to operate on pure cartoon logic, surviving explosions without a scratch."
To cartoon someone/something: (Verb phrase) To exaggerate someone's features or a situation's aspects in a humorous or critical way, as if drawing a caricature.
Example: "The political sketch show always manages to cartoon the current government's policies perfectly."
A cartoon character: Used to describe a real person who behaves in an extremely eccentric, exaggerated, or stereotypical way, almost as if they aren't real.
Example: "The new boss is a real cartoon character – always shouting and waving his arms."
Living in a cartoon world: Describing someone who is out of touch with reality, having an overly simplistic or unrealistic view of life or a situation.
Example: "He thinks he can get rich overnight; he's living in a cartoon world."
Cartoon violence: Referring to a type of violence, often in media, that is depicted in a non-realistic, often humorous way, with little to no lasting harm.
Example: "Parents are concerned about the amount of cartoon violence in children's shows these days."
To have a cartoon voice: To possess a high-pitched, often nasal, or otherwise distinctive voice that sounds like it belongs to an animated character.
Example: "When she gets excited, she tends to have a bit of a cartoon voice."
As if drawn by a cartoonist: Describing something that appears perfectly neat, exaggeratedly typical, or almost too ideal, like a well-executed drawing.
Example: "The picturesque village looked as if it were drawn by a cartoonist."
Beyond caricature: (Using a synonym) Describing a person or situation that is so extreme or absurd that it defies even an exaggerated or satirical depiction.
Example: "The politician's latest speech was so over-the-top, it was beyond caricature."
A living caricature: (Using a synonym) A person who embodies a stereotypical or exaggerated type to such an extent that they seem to be a walking embodiment of a humorous drawing.
Example: "With his monocle and top hat, he was a living caricature of the Victorian gentleman."
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of cartoon from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
