cardboard

Stiff packing paper

Cardboard is stiff, thick paper made from layers of pulp pressed together, used for boxes, packaging, and craft projects.

The material suggests cheapness or flimsiness: a cardboard cutout, cardboard furniture.

Figuratively, cardboard describes something lacking depth or authenticity: cardboard characters, a cardboard villain.

material

corrugated

Formed into parallel folds

pulp · cellulose · fluting · linerboard · sheet · panel · laminated · rigid · brown · composite

texture

corrugated

Formed into parallel folds

flimsy · sturdy · layered · rough · fibrous · bendable · creased · dented · crushed · warped

container

box

Lidded storage container

  • cartonPaperboard packaging container
  • crateContainer for transport
  • packageWrapped item for delivery

case · tube · mailer · sleeve · tray · divider · insert · packing · shipping · storage

recycling

recyclable

Capable of being remade

repurpose · upcycle · breakdown · pulping · baling · collection · wastepaper · curbside · flattened · decompose

craft

cutout

Shape removed from material

  • sculptureShaped three-dimensional art
  • modelRepresentation or paradigm
  • dioramaEnclosed miniature scene display

prototype · template · stencil · construction · puppet · mask · costume · fort · playhouse · dollhouse

cheap

flimsy

Weak and easily damaged

makeshift · cutout · placeholder · mock-up · standee · prop · shanty · shack · facsimile · knockoff

color

brown

Dark earth tone

  • tanYellowish-brown hue
  • beigePale sandy brown
  • kraftStrong unbleached paper

sepia · tawny · buff · caramel · taupe · natural · unbleached · earthy · neutral · mottled

Categories
Opposites
material rigidity

cardboardfabric

Woven or knit material

cloth · rubber · paper · silk · tissue paper

material durability/permanence

cardboardsteel

Carbon-hardened iron alloy

metal · stone · concrete · iron · granite

authenticity/quality

cardboardthree-dimensional

Having volume and depth

authentic · genuine · nuanced · complex · fleshed-out

Phrases
Family

cardboards, cardboard box, cardboard boxes, cardboard-box, corrugated cardboard

Familiarity
Top 2,000
Profile
Known to kids · Used worldwide · Timeless · Concrete · Everyday, not technical · Rated G