monkish

adjective

monk·​ish ˈməŋ-kish How to pronounce monkish (audio)
Synonyms of monkishnext
1
: of, relating to, or resembling a monk
also : resembling that of a monk
2
: inclined to disciplinary self-denial

Examples of monkish in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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And also there is something a little bit, the word that comes to mind is almost monkish. Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 9 Jan. 2026 Pärt, who has apparently retired from creative work, offers an output that is far more complex and contradictory than his monkish public image suggests. Alex Ross, New Yorker, 3 Nov. 2025 Integral, too, to Dayal’s mythology was his monkish existence. Literary Hub, 29 Oct. 2025 The festival would know that better than most, juxtaposing classical music—and its expectation of monkish silence—with the heart of Chicago’s downtown, and the human mix therein. Hannah Edgar, Chicago Tribune, 16 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for monkish

Word History

First Known Use

1537, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of monkish was in 1537

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Cite this Entry

“Monkish.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/monkish. Accessed 26 Jan. 2026.

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