Popeye

Cultural  

1. A tattooed, corncob pipe-smoking comic strip character created in the early twentieth century. Popeye the Sailorman is constantly called upon to save his girlfriend, Olive Oyl, from the schemes of the villainous Bluto. To gain the necessary strength, Popeye consumes a can of spinach.

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Though said to have been inspired by the marketing division of a spinach manufacturer, Popeye has proved enduringly popular, spawning adaptations for the radio, animated cartoons, and a motion picture.

Example Sentences

The U.S. military used cloud seeding during the Vietnam War in a classified project called Operation Popeye, to try to gain an advantage by extending the monsoon season, according to the State Department.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 4, 2025

Many newspapers have long relied on such collaborations to fill out their pages, whether the syndication is war reports from the Associated Press or Popeye comic strips.

From Slate • May 21, 2025

She starred in several other critically acclaimed films including Annie Hall, Nashville and Thieves Like Us, as well as appearing as Olive Oyl in the 1980s musical, Popeye.

From BBC • Dec. 28, 2024

“One of my favorites is Olive Oyl pulling Popeye by his ears,” Swallow says.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 20, 2024

"Spinach, of course. Don't you remember how Popeye gobbles spinach every time he needs more strength and bigger muscles?"

From "All About Sam" by Lois Lowry