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
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2
as in devil
an appealingly mischievous person
come back here, you little monkey!
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of monkey
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
Kendall Capps, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 June 2025
The winding roads up Palomar Mountain are lined with clusters of the sweetly fragrant grape soda lupine, yellow monkey flowers and deep purple phacelia.
—Ernie Cowan, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for monkey
Noun
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
Verb
Rory McIlroy Misses the Cut The Northern Irishman finally got the monkey off his back winning the Masters.
—Kendall Capps, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 June 2025
The winding roads up Palomar Mountain are lined with clusters of the sweetly fragrant grape soda lupine, yellow monkey flowers and deep purple phacelia.
—Ernie Cowan, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for monkey
Recent Examples of Synonyms for monkey
Noun
-
Not the years battling post-traumatic stress disorder or addiction.—
Juliana Kim,
NPR,
24 June 2025
-
In Twin Peaks, Deputy Chief Hawk and Sheriff Frank Truman—filling in for ailing brother Frank—work on following a lead phoned in by an ailing Log Lady, while Richard Horne, son of Audrey Horne and Cooper’s evil double, spiraling into depravity and addiction, kills a child in a hit-and-run.—
Samantha Bergeson,
IndieWire,
20 June 2025
Noun
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And Tony nominee Daniel J. Watts nails his portrayal of Sammy Davis Jr. as a real-life devil on the shoulder of the conflicted trailblazer, while Krystal Joy Brown, Kathy Fitzgerald, Ruby Lewis and Kenita Miller turn out stellar performances in multiple roles.—
Karu F. Daniels,
New York Daily News,
12 June 2025
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Photo : Riva Yachts Riva 68 Diable The 68 Diable lives up to its name—a handsome devil that will be the most stunning yacht at Venice.—
Julia Zaltzman,
Robb Report,
28 May 2025
Verb
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Instead of trying to ape a classic 16-bit console on modern hardware, why not develop the game properly on the original console?—
Ollie Barder,
Forbes.com,
7 May 2025
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Banijay creative exec Lucas Green recently raised concerns that YouTubers aping traditional formats are bad for business but Hugill disagreed.—
Max Goldbart,
Deadline,
14 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Something tells me those wary rascals spotted us and gave us the slip.—
Percy Brown,
Outdoor Life,
12 June 2025
-
Alex has two choices: Linger at Union Station and see what rascals cross her path, or take up an invitation to join her British guardian angels at their home in Winnetka.—
Amanda Whiting,
Vulture,
23 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Fun factoid: Don Adams as Maxwell Smart (Agent 86) talking on the shoe phone has been parodied by many comedians over the years.—
Marc Berman,
Forbes.com,
28 June 2025
-
Dawn of the Dead has been parodied and referenced many times since, including Shaun of the Dead, the video game series Dead Rising, and a remake that's good enough to appear later on this list, but none of its successors quite captured the level of dread and malaise the original does.—
James Grebey,
Time,
20 June 2025
Noun
-
The baby girl had gone rogue after at first doing the same.—
Gary Baum,
HollywoodReporter,
16 June 2025
-
In recent years, Morgan has appeared in a variety of projects, including The Good Wife, Invincible and The Boys, typically playing a similar smooth-talking, charming rogue.—
Kirsten Acuna,
People.com,
16 June 2025
Verb
-
In August 2017, a giant inflatable chicken designed to mimic Trump's features drew widespread media attention when staged near the White House as a form of protest, garnering viral interest on social media.—
James Bickerton,
MSNBC Newsweek,
26 June 2025
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Grain-free cat food features animal protein as the primary ingredient and is perfect for owners who want to mimic their cat’s natural diet and those with cats that are allergic or sensitive to grain.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
25 June 2025
Noun
-
Think noodle bowls, salads, wraps, shawarma, burgers, and brats.—
Ronny Maye,
Essence,
24 June 2025
-
King Herod is played by child actor Parker Williams, which works as a depiction of those in authority as tantrum-throwing brats — something else that resonates in modern times.—
Matthew J. Palm,
The Orlando Sentinel,
4 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Monkey.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/monkey. Accessed 3 Jul. 2025.
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