monkish

adjective

Definition of monkishnext
as in ascetic

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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 monkish And also there is something a little bit, the word that comes to mind is almost monkish. — Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 9 Jan. 2026 Integral, too, to Dayal’s mythology was his monkish existence. — Literary Hub, 29 Oct. 2025 The festival would know that better than most, juxtaposing classical music—and its expectation of monkish silence—with the heart of Chicago’s downtown, and the human mix therein. — Hannah Edgar, Chicago Tribune, 16 Aug. 2025 Obama has retreated into monkish silence, broken only for special occasions such as celebrity deaths and the recording of Bruce Springsteen podcasts. — Isaac Chotiner, The New Yorker, 17 July 2024 See All Example Sentences for monkish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for monkish
  1. ascetic
  2. monastic
  3. austere
  4. authoritarian
  5. strict
  6. stern
Adjective
  • And there were posters tearing apart his otherworldly self-projection as a fakir, or ascetic, depicting him in his monogrammed suits, designer sunglasses, and aircraft.
    — Asim Ali, Time, 1 Aug. 2026
  • Then, over the following years, came sustainability and strict reuse and ascetic renunciation, and today, finally, its photo series and articles advocated for a mild, slightly quirky anticapitalist metaphysics.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 22 July 2026
Definition of ascetic
Adjective
  • The monastic Wiesler eventually comes to believe Dreyman is harmless and in the process doubts the very foundations of autocracy itself.
    — David Faris, TheWeek, 27 July 2026
  • Practice frequently occurs within a monastic or lay community.
    — Ronald S. Green, The Conversation, 16 July 2026
Definition of monastic
Adjective
  • The 19-foot statues, called The Arts of War, were once easy to miss but now look a bit like oversized children’s trophies, especially next to the classical and austere Lincoln Memorial.
    — Matt Viser, The Atlantic, 2 Aug. 2026
  • Women are driving and playing a greater role in the workforce — part of a relaxation of the previous enforcement of a particularly austere interpretation of Islam.
    — Mohammed Sergie, semafor.com, 29 July 2026
Definition of austere
Adjective
  • This is different than the private enrichment model of typical authoritarian regimes where wealth accumulates through corruption and consists of private assets, offshore accounts, companies and family fortunes.
    — Natasha Lindstaedt, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026
  • But Alicia soon begins to suspect that her daughter is one of the children grotesquely stolen from the desaparecidos, dissidents disappeared by the country’s authoritarian junta, and that her husband might be in on the repugnant scheme.
    — David Faris, TheWeek, 27 July 2026
Definition of authoritarian
Adjective
  • Newer, stricter regulations for asylum seekers and migrants largely replaced the previous migration system, which was widely considered a failure.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 4 Aug. 2026
  • The final compromise included strict new budget caps that have helped generate unprecedented surpluses averaging more than 8% of the annual budget.
    — Keith M. Phaneuf, Hartford Courant, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of strict
Adjective
  • Most include a warning of no refunds and a stern caution to know the limits of one’s own taste buds—something too many poor souls choose to ignore.
    — Ellen Fort, Bon Appetit Magazine, 31 July 2026
  • There’s also hints of vulnerability and genuine tenderness in her stern headmistress of the bedroom, which Wilde slips in just slyly enough to let the presence of a heart peek through all the brainy brashness and hormone overload.
    — David Fear, Rolling Stone, 30 July 2026
Definition of stern

Browse Nearby Words

monkhoods
monkish
monks
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Cite this Entry

“Monkish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/monkish. Accessed 4 Aug. 2026.

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