monkey
1 of 2noun
mon·key ˈməŋ-kē 
plural monkeys
1
: a nonhuman primate mammal with the exception usually of the lemurs and tarsiers
especially : any of the smaller longer-tailed catarrhine or platyrrhine primates as contrasted with the apes
2
a
: a person resembling a monkey
b
: a ludicrous figure : dupe
3
: any of various machines, implements, or vessels
especially : the falling weight of a pile driver
4
: a desperate desire for or addiction to drugs —often used in the phrase monkey on one's back
broadly : a persistent or annoying encumbrance or problem
monkey
2 of 2verb
monkeyed; monkeying
transitive verb
: mimic, mock
intransitive verb
1
: to act in a grotesque or mischievous manner
2
a
: fool, trifle —often used with around
he likes to monkey around with engines
b
: tamper —usually used with with
don't monkey with the settings
Synonyms
Noun
- addiction
- dependence
- dependance
- habit
- jones [slang]
Verb
- act up
- clown (around)
- cut up
- fool around
- horse around
- hotdog
- show off
- showboat
- skylark
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Noun He's quite a cheeky little monkey, isn't he? I've got this monkey on my back, and going to detox is the only way to get it off.
Recent Examples on the Web
From Usa Today Network And Wire Reports, USA TODAY, 17 Aug. 2022 How many, and who is Cleveland offering its limited monkey pox vaccine to? Staff Reports, cleveland, 9 Aug. 2022 Spike gooey apple monkey bread with bourbon for a breakfast recipe that really brings the cheer. Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 Aug. 2022 Instead, Peele is offering a separate line of products, including coffee and streetwear, all bearing the monkey paw logo seen on his opening film credits. Adario Strange, Quartz, 16 Aug. 2022 Alongside statuettes of Hanuman in characteristic battle poses, for example, a 14th-century stone relief from Cambodia illustrates a regional variation of the monkey warrior’s tale. Lee Lawrence, WSJ, 13 Aug. 2022 Lilly Pulitzer, the real-life woman behind the preppy fashion brand, was many things: mother, designer, entrepreneur, monkey owner. Caroline Hallemann, Town & Country, 11 Aug. 2022 Studies in cultured monkey cells conducted by independent researchers at the University of Tokyo also suggest that nirmatrelvir can curb activity of the BA.5 subvariant of Omicron, which is what has been driving infections in recent months. David Cox, Wired, 9 Aug. 2022 There was some discussion of the name monopox, Lewis said, but mono in Spanish means monkey. Helen Branswell, STAT, 2 Aug. 2022 Valerie Demicheva And Flora Chang, San Francisco Chronicle, 26 July 2021 But this experiment isn't about monkeying around—this a real security and safety hazard, the researchers point out in a new paper. Courtney Linder, Popular Mechanics, 31 Jan. 2020 To make matters more confusing, Apple monkeyed around with the names of the new stuff. Geoffrey A. Fowler, The Denver Post, 15 Sep. 2019 To make matters more confusing, Apple monkeyed around with the names of the new stuff. Geoffrey A. Fowler, The Denver Post, 15 Sep. 2019 To make matters more confusing, Apple monkeyed around with the names of the new stuff. Geoffrey A. Fowler, The Denver Post, 15 Sep. 2019 To make matters more confusing, Apple monkeyed around with the names of the new stuff. Geoffrey A. Fowler, The Denver Post, 15 Sep. 2019 To make matters more confusing, Apple monkeyed around with the names of the new stuff. Geoffrey A. Fowler, The Denver Post, 15 Sep. 2019 Wayne Newton‘s pet likely won’t be monkeying around any longer. Joelle Goldstein, PEOPLE.com, 9 Aug. 2019 See More
Noun
The monkey, a longtime fixture at the park, was deemed dangerous by zoo officials and was shot and killed by the wildlife park’s owner, Jeff Sanders, according to Branson police. From Usa Today Network And Wire Reports, USA TODAY, 17 Aug. 2022 How many, and who is Cleveland offering its limited monkey pox vaccine to? Staff Reports, cleveland, 9 Aug. 2022 Spike gooey apple monkey bread with bourbon for a breakfast recipe that really brings the cheer. Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 Aug. 2022 Instead, Peele is offering a separate line of products, including coffee and streetwear, all bearing the monkey paw logo seen on his opening film credits. Adario Strange, Quartz, 16 Aug. 2022 Alongside statuettes of Hanuman in characteristic battle poses, for example, a 14th-century stone relief from Cambodia illustrates a regional variation of the monkey warrior’s tale. Lee Lawrence, WSJ, 13 Aug. 2022 Lilly Pulitzer, the real-life woman behind the preppy fashion brand, was many things: mother, designer, entrepreneur, monkey owner. Caroline Hallemann, Town & Country, 11 Aug. 2022 Studies in cultured monkey cells conducted by independent researchers at the University of Tokyo also suggest that nirmatrelvir can curb activity of the BA.5 subvariant of Omicron, which is what has been driving infections in recent months. David Cox, Wired, 9 Aug. 2022 There was some discussion of the name monopox, Lewis said, but mono in Spanish means monkey. Helen Branswell, STAT, 2 Aug. 2022 Verb
With supply running low toward the end of most evenings, savvy bun fanatics don’t monkey around, routinely calling ahead to request an extra skillet of rolls set aside just for them. Ettan. Valerie Demicheva And Flora Chang, San Francisco Chronicle, 26 July 2021 But this experiment isn't about monkeying around—this a real security and safety hazard, the researchers point out in a new paper. Courtney Linder, Popular Mechanics, 31 Jan. 2020 To make matters more confusing, Apple monkeyed around with the names of the new stuff. Geoffrey A. Fowler, The Denver Post, 15 Sep. 2019 To make matters more confusing, Apple monkeyed around with the names of the new stuff. Geoffrey A. Fowler, The Denver Post, 15 Sep. 2019 To make matters more confusing, Apple monkeyed around with the names of the new stuff. Geoffrey A. Fowler, The Denver Post, 15 Sep. 2019 To make matters more confusing, Apple monkeyed around with the names of the new stuff. Geoffrey A. Fowler, The Denver Post, 15 Sep. 2019 To make matters more confusing, Apple monkeyed around with the names of the new stuff. Geoffrey A. Fowler, The Denver Post, 15 Sep. 2019 Wayne Newton‘s pet likely won’t be monkeying around any longer. Joelle Goldstein, PEOPLE.com, 9 Aug. 2019 See More Word History
Etymology
Noun
probably of Low German origin; akin to Moneke, name of an ape, probably of Romance origin; akin to Old Spanish mona monkey
First Known Use
Noun
circa 1530, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Verb
circa 1658, in the meaning defined at transitive sense
Phrases Containing monkey
Kids Definition
monkey 1 of 2
noun
mon·key ˈməŋ-kē
plural monkeys
: a furry animal of warm regions that has a long tail and that along with the apes is most closely related to humans
monkey
2 of 2verb
monkeyed; monkeying
1
: to spend time in an idle or aimless way
We just monkeyed around in the gym.
2
: to handle secretly or in a careless or incorrect way
He didn't want anyone monkeying with the cash register … George Selden, The Cricket in Times Square
George Selden, The Cricket in Times Square Medical Definition
monkey
noun
mon·key ˈməŋ-kē
: a nonhuman primate mammal with the exception usually of the lemurs and tarsiers
especially : any of the smaller longer-tailed primates as contrasted with the apes
monkey 1 of 2
noun
1
as in addiction
a physiological need for certain drugs I've got this monkey on my back, and going to detox is the only way to get it off Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- addiction
- jones
- habit
- dependence
- tolerance
- habituation
- dependance
- morphinism
- alcoholism
- heroinism
2
as in devil
an appealingly mischievous person come back here, you little monkey! Synonyms & Similar Words
- devil
- rascal
- rogue
- imp
- urchin
- brat
- mischief
- scamp
- rapscallion
- hellion
- madcap
- ragamuffin
- larker
- nuisance
- cutup
- juvenile delinquent
- skylarker
- gamin
- disrupter
- misbehaver
- gamine
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- snake
- clown
- skunk
- beast
- louse
- heel
- creep
- cur
- joker
- stinker
- boor
- lout
- cretin
- cad
- churl
- villain
- scoundrel
- knave
- miscreant
- stinkard
- scapegrace
- scalawag
- varlet
- scallywag
- reprobate
monkey
2 of 2verb
as in to ape
Synonyms & Similar Words
- ape
- mime
- parody
- copy
- mimic
- travesty
- mock
- imitate
- personate
- impersonate
- masquerade (as)
- act
- play
- pose (as)
- perform
- portray