as in joking
wildly playful or mischievous behavior
the new nanny will not tolerate such monkey business from her charges
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of monkey business
The Santa Ana Zoo at Prentice Park has some monkey business going on: updates to its primate and other animal habitats, educational buildings and pathways.
—
Lillian Ashworth,
Oc Register,
18 July 2025
Do a direct export from the original system—no monkey business.
—
James Bickerton,
MSNBC Newsweek,
12 July 2025
The brand’s monkey business button-up collared shirt was worn by Blackpink’s Lisa in one of the opening scenes of the premiere episode.
—
Julia Teti,
WWD,
19 Feb. 2025
No side bets with them or other monkey business!
—
Brady Dale,
Axios,
11 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for monkey business
Lillian Ashworth,
Oc Register,
18 July 2025
Do a direct export from the original system—no monkey business.
—
James Bickerton,
MSNBC Newsweek,
12 July 2025
The brand’s monkey business button-up collared shirt was worn by Blackpink’s Lisa in one of the opening scenes of the premiere episode.
—
Julia Teti,
WWD,
19 Feb. 2025
No side bets with them or other monkey business!
—
Brady Dale,
Axios,
11 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for monkey business
Recent Examples of Synonyms for monkey business
Noun
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Oh, but the Padres manager was ready with the joking last night.
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Still, Yoon’s joking somehow lightens the mood.
Noun
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The clowning might be a little too effortful.
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As the race unfolds in real time, there’s clowning, collisions, sabotage, surprises, comedy, chaos and more.
Noun
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When horseplay turns into an impromptu hookup, neither of the young men fight the urge.
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After France’s 4-3 victory against Argentina at the 2018 World Cup in Russia, horseplay between the players at the team hotel culminated in back-up centre-back Adil Rami setting off a fire extinguisher in the early hours of the morning.
Noun
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The show, with its interest in corporate buffoonery, doesn’t quite manage to hand-wave away the queasy implications.
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Receivers have cratered seasons with me-over-we buffoonery.
Noun
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As for Abdul-Mateen, the clownery will resume for him on Broadway.
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Tirhakah Love is a senior writer at New York Magazine and the host of the new evening newsletter Dinner Party, a daily email that touches on all things entertainment — that means film, television, music, tech, and gaming — plus politics and corporate clownery.
Noun
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Against that background, the show’s playfulness gave the clothes some tension.
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To commemorate the grand opening, Butter Baby has released Blind Box Series 1, featuring seven collectible characters in different outfits and moods that capture the playfulness of the viral character.
Noun
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As expected, Aussies brought the roughhousing.
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The boys challenge each other to throw heavy objects, which leads to intense roughhousing.
Noun
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The project has been plagued by technical issues, supplier disputes, and alleged tomfoolery—empty mini tequila bottles were reportedly discovered on one of the airplanes under construction.
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The latest tomfoolery consisted of a posting on Twitter/X last week that provided a picture of a genuine Monet painting, and the picture was labeled as supposedly being AI-generated.
Cite this Entry
“Monkey business.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/monkey%20business. Accessed 28 Jun. 2026.
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