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
  • But the units are monastic, at least by the standards of Nashville upperclassmen, who usually live in singles or in apartments off campus.
    — Adriane Quinlan, Curbed, 26 Aug. 2026
  • When the Dark Ages descended on the ancient world, Benedict of Nursia ignited a monastic revival that would establish thousands of monasteries and train generations of devoted readers.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of monastic
Adjective
  • Broadly speaking, great works of Russian literature have a tendency to combine painfully austere themes with strangely rich imaginations.
    — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 5 Sep. 2026
  • The staging at the Ivan Franko National Academic Drama Theater is designed to be austere and unsettling.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of austere
Adjective
  • Dejan Pavlovic, from Belgrade’s Faculty of Political Sciences, drew a comparison with an election this year in Hungary that swept from power another authoritarian, Viktor Orbán.
    — Ivana Bzganovic, Los Angeles Times, 9 Sep. 2026
  • Meanwhile, authoritarian regimes are on the rise across the planet, including in the United States.
    — Jordan Mintzer, HollywoodReporter, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of authoritarian
Adjective
  • The idea that stricter work-search requirements will lead to faster re-employment simply doesn't match the reality of modern hiring.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 8 Sep. 2026
  • They were built before 1976, when the federal government enacted stricter building codes for such homes, requiring things like safer wiring and better insulation.
    — Alejandra Borunda, NPR, 7 Sep. 2026
Definition of strict
Adjective
  • Khan himself stars as the outwardly stern but inwardly soft-hearted Etienne, who heads up the dozen-strong medical team.
    — Miriam Balanescu, IndieWire, 4 Sep. 2026
  • The almost 1,100-foot-long warship was covered in rust from bow to stern.
    — Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 3 Sep. 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 14 Sep. 2026.

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