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
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2
as in devil
an appealingly mischievous person
come back here, you little monkey!
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of monkey
Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 20 Feb. 2026
Punch, a baby Japanese monkey, received an outpour of love online after videos of him clutching a small orangutan plushie went viral.
—Kayla Hayempour, NBC news, 20 Feb. 2026
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
Noun
There’s nothing wrong with him, but as a baby reared with staff instead of inside the group of monkeys, the others just really hate Punch’s vibe.
—Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 20 Feb. 2026
Punch, a baby Japanese monkey, received an outpour of love online after videos of him clutching a small orangutan plushie went viral.
—Kayla Hayempour, NBC news, 20 Feb. 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. Ettan.
—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
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He also was suspected in a nearby burglary in Burley to fund his addiction in the weeks before Whitney Murphy’s death, as well as another years later at a home in Eugene, Oregon, in 2021, the defense said.—
Kevin Fixler,
Idaho Statesman,
20 Feb. 2026
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Her 11-year-old daughter Selena died by suicide in 2021 after struggling with an alleged addiction to Instagram and Snapchat.—
Clare Duffy,
CNN Money,
19 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Think of devil’s food in Bundt form!—
Kaitlyn Yarborough,
Southern Living,
15 Feb. 2026
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To play devil’s advocate, Rodriguez has exhausted a lot of patience (there’s a funny quote in Felipe Cardenas’ analysis about his physical stats).—
Phil Hay,
New York Times,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Hopefully, that will honor the original film by not trying to ape it.—
Anne Thompson,
IndieWire,
11 Feb. 2026
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But none aped the style of an actual Super Bowl ad more cleverly than this one, clearly modeled after Budweiser’s ads that tend to feature horses and inspirational voiceovers.—
Omar L. Gallaga,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Cutting convoy risk Army planners see cargo drones as a way to reduce dependence on traditional resupply convoys.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
17 Feb. 2026
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Together with reducing its dependence on the United States and China, Brussels is cultivating other relationships.—
Joseph de Weck,
The Atlantic,
17 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Mozart, however, isn’t merely a puerile rascal, as his relationship with Lauren Worsham’s Constanze reveals.—
Theater Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
18 Feb. 2026
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Of all the former rascals, Symoné has enjoyed the longest and most successful career in entertainment.—
Andrew Walsh,
Entertainment Weekly,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Actors who have portrayed Jackson on screen include Nigel Gibbs in the TV series Monster (2022), and Eddie Murphy famously parodied Jackson on Saturday Night Live in 1984.—
Georg Szalai,
HollywoodReporter,
17 Feb. 2026
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The question was how to parody a movie in which the company itself played a pivotal part.—
Debby Wolfinsohn,
Entertainment Weekly,
8 Feb. 2026
Noun
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In another, a team of researchers warns that within the decade, rogue AI might release biological weapons, wiping out nearly all of humanity.—
Lila Shroff,
The Atlantic,
17 Feb. 2026
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Add to that the everyday chaos—keys, mail, laundry, and rogue receipts—and my once-tidy kitchen table is officially MIA.—
Alexandra Emanuelli,
Southern Living,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The floor-length, silk duchesse dress mimicked the silhouette and design of a classic trench coat, with tiny buckle detailing along the sleeve trims and a tie to secure the garment around her waist.—
Julia Teti,
Footwear News,
22 Feb. 2026
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These areas mimic a natural desert oasis environment, where trees are clumped together and left to grow naturally, producing fruit and nourishing the local wildlife.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
21 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Monkey.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/monkey. Accessed 24 Feb. 2026.
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