as in funning
wildly playful or mischievous behavior
all that monkeying was sure to end in someone or something getting hurt
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
as in prankish
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for monkeying
Adjective
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Still, at its best, Needle Guy applies Brady’s prankish energy to unsettling inversions of his inspirations.—
Colin Joyce,
Pitchfork,
25 Mar. 2026 -
Yet, the prankish tone keeps Grace from having much of a personality, other than a rebellious screw this.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The re-enactments, which include bomb-making and transportation, as well as the three-pronged plan to escape, have a flavor that calls to mind ’70s heist and spy films, accompanied by Michael James Lee’s jaunty, genre-aping score.—
Daniel Fienberg,
HollywoodReporter,
13 Mar. 2026
-
Trying To Avoid The Generic However, having minimal buttons is hardly an original design strategy when so many EVs have followed this route (aping Tesla).—
James Morris,
Forbes.com,
17 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
There was none of the usual laughing and joking.—
Mario Cortegana,
New York Times,
20 Mar. 2026
-
Lindsay says that Jesse was serious about asking, but that the make-out would be a joking make-out.—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
4 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The rabbi is ornery, arrogant, sometimes cruel.—
Daniel Felsenthal,
Vulture,
26 Mar. 2026
-
For ornery toddlers, who want to do everything themselves, Rao suggests giving them their own toothbrush to use while parents brush their teeth with a second one right alongside them.—
Sarah Lindenfeld Hall,
Popular Science,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
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These moments show students evaluating AI output critically and treating it almost as a sparring partner, rather than simply copying it.—
Jeanne Beatrix Law,
The Conversation,
26 Mar. 2026
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The lawsuits accused Suno and Udio of unlawfully copying the three companies’ sound recordings as training models for their AI models.—
George Varga,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
22 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Comedy and clowning are ways Zaalan has connected with their homeland after the Syrian revolution.—
Candace Hansen,
Los Angeles Times,
1 Apr. 2026
-
As in past years, the festival will feature independent artists and companies presenting new and experimental theater, dance, clowning, music and more.—
Pam Kragen,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
15 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Plans are now underway for a contemporary reimagining of the series, which saw McShane play the eponymous roguish and fourth wall-breaking antiques dealer, a likeable anti-hero with a knack for recognizing genuine antiques from fakes or forgeries.—
Alex Ritman,
Variety,
4 Mar. 2026
-
Joe Morrow plays the roguish Sean.—
Andreas Wiseman,
Deadline,
2 Mar. 2026
Verb
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That said, a fasting-mimicking diet can be extreme and isn’t for everyone, so make sure to talk to your health care provider before attempting it on your own.—
Korin Miller,
SELF,
31 Mar. 2026
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But each type of fish has its own specific needs and requires mimicking their open ocean environment in a small 15-gallon tank.—
Ari Daniel,
NPR,
31 Mar. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Monkeying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/monkeying. Accessed 7 Apr. 2026.
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