thought balloon
Illustrated inner monologue
A thought balloon is a rounded shape in comics and cartoons that contains a character's unspoken thoughts, typically connected to the character's head by a series of small bubbles rather than a pointed tail.
Distinguished from speech balloons, which show spoken dialogue: The thought balloon revealed what the villain was really planning.
Enclosed comic dialogue
- comicFunny performer or publication
- cartoonAnimated or humorous illustration
- panelDistinct flat section
- illustrationPicture explaining something
manga · graphic novel · caption · strip · dialogue · character · expression · narrative
Spontaneous idea generation
- conceptAbstract mental construct
- notionImprecise mental impression
- inspirationSource of creative impulse
- eurekaDiscovery triumph cry
lightbulb moment · realization · insight · epiphany · plan · scheme · brainwave · hunch
Returned light or thought
- introspectionObserving one's own mind
- contemplationSustained reflective attention
- ponderingThinking deeply about something
- ruminationProlonged, repetitive thinking
self-talk · stream of consciousness · internal dialogue · unspoken · silent · soliloquy · brooding · meditation
Conscious fantasy while awake
- fantasyImaginative mental wandering
- reverieAbstracted, pleasant daydream
- musingReflective contemplation
- wonderingFeeling curiosity about something
wishful thinking · visualization · mental image · mind's eye · conjecture · speculation · scenario · hypothetical
Troubled mental state
- anxietyPersistent apprehensive distress
- longingIntense, persistent desire
- desireIntense wanting
- hopeDesire for good outcomes
fear · confusion · frustration · love · jealousy · embarrassment · inner turmoil · sentiment
speech bubble
Enclosed comic dialogue
- comicFunny performer or publication
- cartoonAnimated or humorous illustration
- panelDistinct flat section
illustration · manga · graphic novel · caption · strip · dialogue · character · expression · narrative · punctuation
brainstorm
Spontaneous idea generation
- conceptAbstract mental construct
- notionImprecise mental impression
- inspirationSource of creative impulse
eureka · lightbulb moment · realization · insight · epiphany · plan · scheme · brainwave · hunch · intuition
reflection
Returned light or thought
- introspectionObserving one's own mind
- contemplationSustained reflective attention
- ponderingThinking deeply about something
rumination · self-talk · stream of consciousness · internal dialogue · unspoken · silent · soliloquy · brooding · meditation · deliberation
daydream
Conscious fantasy while awake
- fantasyImaginative mental wandering
- reverieAbstracted, pleasant daydream
- musingReflective contemplation
wondering · wishful thinking · visualization · mental image · mind's eye · conjecture · speculation · scenario · hypothetical · what-if
worry
Troubled mental state
hope · fear · confusion · frustration · love · jealousy · embarrassment · inner turmoil · sentiment · mood
- comicscomic books, comic book, comic strip, comic art, comic panel
- comic artcomic, comics, comic book, cartoon, manga
thought balloonspeech balloon
Outlined shape containing dialogue
speech bubble · word balloon · spoken dialogue · exclamation · shout
thought balloonspeech balloon
Outlined shape containing dialogue
dialogue · proclamation · announcement · declaration · broadcast
thought, balloon, thinks, thoughts, thinkable, unthinkable, thoughtful, thoughtfully, thoughtfulness