monkey wrench

noun

1

: a wrench with one fixed and one adjustable jaw at right angles to a straight handle

2

: something that disrupts

threw a monkey wrench into the peace negotiations

Illustration of monkey wrench

• monkey wrench 1

Examples of monkey wrench in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

This whole memory complex has thrown a monkey wrench into the hyperscalers’ growth plans. — Jim Cramer, CNBC, 21 June 2026

Nissan was also hampered by the arrest of former Chairman Carlos Ghosn in 2018 which threw a monkey wrench into the strategy and product launches of the Nissan-Renault-Mitsubishi alliance. — Neil Winton, Forbes.com, 7 Mar. 2026

Yes, that leads to obvious trouble in the Washington Territory as monkey wrenches aplenty get thrown into the paths of these two resilient women. — Randy Myers, Mercury News, 12 Dec. 2025

What can throw a monkey wrench into this is a very short escrow period, say 15 days. — Jeff Lazerson, Oc Register, 16 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1807, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for monkey wrench

• clench
• drench
• quench
• stench
• tench
• trench
• wench
• entrench
• retrench
• workbench

Kids Definition

monkey wrench

noun

: a wrench with one fixed and one adjustable jaw