MONKEYED (AROUND) Synonyms: 54 Similar and Opposite Words

monkeyed (around)

verb

past tense of monkey (around)

as in clowned (around)

to engage in attention-getting playful or boisterous behavior stop monkeying around in the house or you'll break something

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as in fiddled (around)

to spend time in aimless activity would rather just monkey around instead of doing work

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Recent Examples of Synonyms for monkeyed (around)

Verb

Californios’ reign began to vanish even before the discovery of gold, when droughts and floods wiped out their easygoing livelihoods, and their lands were cut up, sold off, and their land grants swept aside by the new state.

— Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 30 Oct. 2026
The first plan, which would have cut up to 18 English learner teachers and affected at least two dozen schools, drew backlash.

— Beret Leone, CBS News, 28 Oct. 2026

Definition of cut up

Verb

Both came on fourth down, after the Chiefs had played gallantly near the goal line.

— Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 2 Nov. 2026
Taaffe and JuJu Brents, who had both played generally well for six games, each was beaten on TD passes in the second half, when Maye went 9 for 10 for 148 yards.

— Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 2 Nov. 2026

Definition of played

Verb

Then in spring training this year, Hollowell again messed around with different changeup grips while incorporating mental cues from previous coaches, and something clicked with a circle-change grip.

— Meghan Montemurro, Chicago Tribune, 25 July 2026
Dragstrem, who focuses more on production, has messed around with it but was left unsatisfied; McGill, who’s more lyrics-driven, wants nothing to do with the tech.

— Jonathan Bernstein, Rolling Stone, 30 May 2026

Definition of messed around

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monkeyed

monkeyed (around)

monkeyed (with)

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“Monkeyed (around).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/monkeyed%20%28around%29. Accessed 3 Nov. 2026.

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Synonyms of monkeyed (around)

verb

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