MONKEY Synonyms: 72 Similar and Opposite Words

monkey 1 of 2

noun

ˈməŋ-kē

Definition of monkey

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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as in devil

an appealingly mischievous person come back here, you little monkey!

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

monkey

2 of 2

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of monkey

Noun

There were still failures (the next monkey launch of Albert IV did not succeed), and three of the seven Project Blossom launch tests failed in all. — Tariq Malik, Space.com, 16 Sep. 2026 And he was tasked with dislodging one very large, very clingy monkey off the team’s back. — Andrew Baggarly, New York Times, 10 Sep. 2026

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. — 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 See All Example Sentences for monkey

Recent Examples of Synonyms for monkey

Noun

In a case this spring, a jury in California found Meta and YouTube liable in a social media addiction case.

— Lisa Hagen, Hartford Courant, 2 Oct. 2026
But when a traumatic encounter sends Tonya spiraling back into addiction—and back into the dangerous orbit of her drug-dealing ex-husband, Ronny (Alexander)—her fragile progress begins to unravel.

— Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of addiction

Verb

Critics and fanboy media thrashed Supergirl not just for its Guardians of the Galaxy touchstones, but also for aping Mad Max.

— Anthony D'Alessandro, Deadline, 29 June 2026
The track apes the softly anthemic approach of U2, Coldplay, and the National—until all of that elegant uplift topples like an overly ambitious wedding cake.

— Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 12 June 2026

Definition of ape

Noun

Neither candidate has a strategy for combatting Brazil’s growing dependence on China for trade, a key issue in the presidential race.

— Ashley Gold, semafor.com, 2 Oct. 2026
The ruler who turns to AI to reduce a dependence on unreliable humans may end up relying, more blindly than before, on the few AI specialists who keep the system running.

— Seva Gunitsky, Foreign Affairs, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of dependence

Noun

Even though the Feeneys have gotten more competitive under the junior Michel’s management, the rascal-on-the-field ethos of the original team still prevails.

— Christopher Buchanan, Los Angeles Times, 26 June 2026
Not even the curmudgeonly Melvin can bring himself to harm the little rascal.

— Camille Perri, PEOPLE, 10 June 2026

Definition of rascal

Verb

The latter went from working on Star Trek properties (Next Gen, Voyager, Enterprise) to parodying them with MacFarlane on The Orville.

— Bethy Squires, Vulture, 30 Sep. 2026
The White House announced Arcade on social media with a series of animations parodying Xbox, PlayStation and Nintendo loading screens.

— Lou Kesten, Fortune, 5 Sep. 2026

Definition of parody

Verb

Some really solid casting there in evoking, but not mimicking, either Faist or Abbott.

— Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 1 Oct. 2026
In one interview, police brought him back to the home and filmed him recreating the scene, mimicking grabbing his gun, finding Causse, firing off the shots that killed Miller in the hallway, and then calling 9-1-1.

— CT Jones, Rolling Stone, 30 Sep. 2026

Definition of mimic

Browse Nearby Words

monk

monkey

monkey (around)

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Monkey.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/monkey. Accessed 7 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of monkey

noun

verb

Example Sentences

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Synonyms of monkey

noun

verb

Example Sentences

Phrases Containing monkey

Browse Nearby Words

Articles Related to monkey

11 "Problems" Inspired by Animal Names

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on monkey

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

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Popular in Grammar & Usage

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

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Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

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7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

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12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

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Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

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