Monkey — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun verb /ˈməŋ-kē/ mon·key

Meaning & Definition of Monkey

Monkey (noun)

  1. a nonhuman primate mammal with the exception usually of the lemurs and tarsiers; especially, any of the smaller longer-tailed catarrhine or platyrrhine primates as contrasted with the apes
  2. a person resembling a monkey
  3. a ludicrous figure, dupe —often used in the phrase make a monkey out of

Monkey (verb)

  1. mimic, mock
  2. to act in a grotesque or mischievous manner
  3. fool, trifle —often used with around

Monkey (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. 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"

    similar: addiction, dependence, habit, jones (slang)
    related: alcoholism, heroinism, morphinism, habituation, tolerance

  2. an appealingly mischievous person

    "come back here, you little monkey!"

    similar: devil, hellion, imp, mischief, rapscallion, rascal, rogue, scamp, urchin
    related: cutup, larker, madcap, skylarker, ragamuffin, brat, disrupter, misbehaver, nuisance, juvenile delinquent, gamin, gamine
    near: beast, boor, cad, churl, clown, creep, cretin, cur, heel, joker, louse, lout, skunk, snake, stinkard, stinker, knave, miscreant, reprobate, scalawag, scapegrace, scoundrel, varlet, villain

Monkey (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. as in mimic, ape

    similar: ape, copy, imitate, mime, mimic, mock, parody, travesty, act, impersonate, masquerade (as), personate, play, pose (as), perform, portray

Related Entry: Monkey (around) (verb)

Monkey (around) is a different word from Monkey. The synonyms below are for monkey (around), not for monkey.

  1. to engage in attention-getting playful or boisterous behavior

    "stop monkeying around in the house or you'll break something"

    similar: act up, clown (around), cut up, fool around, horse around, hotdog, show off, showboat, skylark
    related: carry on, misbehave, roughhouse, caper, cavort, disport, frisk, frolic, gambol, lark, rollick, romp, carouse, maffick, revel, roar, wassail

  2. to spend time in aimless activity

    "would rather just monkey around instead of doing work"

    similar: doodle, fiddle (around), fool around, fribble, goof (around), hang about (British), kick around, mess around, play, potter (around), putter (around), trifle
    related: dally, dawdle, dillydally, hang (around or out), idle, loaf, loll, lounge, clown (around), horse around, diddle (with), tinker
    near: buckle (down), knuckle down, set (to), settle (down)

Related Entry: Monkey (with) (verb)

Monkey (with) is a different word from Monkey. The synonyms below are for monkey (with), not for monkey.

  1. to handle thoughtlessly, ignorantly, or mischievously

    "don't monkey with that broken lawnmower"

    similar: diddle (with), fiddle (with), fool (with), mess (with), play (with), tamper (with), tinker (with), toy (with), twiddle (with)
    related: abuse, alter, doctor, manhandle, manipulate, mistreat, misuse, butt in, interfere, intrude, meddle, muck (about or around)

Related Entry: Monkey business (noun)

Monkey business is a different word from Monkey. The synonyms below are for monkey business, not for monkey.

  1. wildly playful or mischievous behavior

    "the new nanny will not tolerate such monkey business from her charges"

    similar: buffoonery, clownery, clowning, foolery, high jinks, horseplay, horsing around, monkeying, monkeyshine(s), roughhouse, roughhousing, shenanigan(s), skylarking, slapstick, tomfoolery
    related: childishness, clownishness, foolishness, funning, jesting, joking, nonsense, silliness, waggery, boisterousness, rambunctiousness, rowdiness, rowdyism, rumbustiousness (chiefly British), devilry, impishness, knavery, mischief, mischievousness, prankishness, rascality, roguery, roguishness, trickery, cavorting, frivolity, frolicking, gamboling, merrymaking, playfulness, revelry, roistering, romping, sporting, sportiveness

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Monkey

The most common words with a similar meaning to Monkey:

Slang: jones
addiction, dependence, habit, devil, hellion, imp, mischief, rapscallion, rascal, rogue, scamp, urchin, ape, copy, imitate, mime, mimic, mock, parody, travesty, act, impersonate, masquerade (as), personate, play, pose (as), perform, portray

Related Words for Monkey

alcoholism, heroinism, morphinism, habituation, tolerance, cutup, larker, madcap, skylarker, ragamuffin, brat, disrupter, misbehaver, nuisance, juvenile delinquent, gamin, gamine

Near Antonyms of Monkey

beast, boor, cad, churl, clown, creep, cretin, cur, heel, joker, louse, lout, skunk, snake, stinkard, stinker, knave, miscreant, reprobate, scalawag, scapegrace, scoundrel, varlet, villain

Word Forms of Monkey

Inflections: monkeys, monkeyed, monkeying

Origin & Etymology of Monkey

probably of Low German origin; akin to Moneke, name of an ape, probably of Romance origin; akin to Old Spanish mona monkey

First known use: circa 1530

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Monkey

Words & Phrases Containing Monkey

monkey bars, monkey business, monkey jacket, monkey puzzle, monkey wrench, monkey about, monkey about with (something), monkey around

Frequently Asked Questions about Monkey

What does "Monkey" mean?

"Monkey" means a nonhuman primate mammal with the exception usually of the lemurs and tarsiers; especially, any of the smaller longer-tailed catarrhine or platyrrhine primates as contrasted with the apes. As an a noun and a verb, it is defined as: a nonhuman primate mammal with the exception usually of the lemurs and tarsiers; especially, any of the smaller longer-tailed catarrhine or platyrrhine primates as contrasted with the apes. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Monkey"?

Other words for "Monkey" include addiction, dependence, habit, jones, devil, hellion, imp and mischief. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Monkey" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Monkey"?

There are 46 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Monkey". Common alternatives include addiction, dependence, habit, jones, devil, hellion, imp, mischief, rapscallion and rascal.

How do you use "Monkey" in a sentence?

Examples of "Monkey" in a sentence: "I've got this monkey on my back, and going to detox is the only way to get it off"; "come back here, you little monkey!".

Is "Monkey" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Monkey" can be used as a noun and a verb, depending on the context.

Is "Monkey" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As an A1-level word, "Monkey" is typical of Cambridge A1 Movers (Young Learners), TOEIC Listening & Reading 120+.

How do you pronounce "Monkey"?

"Monkey" is pronounced /ˈməŋ-kē/ and divided into syllables as mon·key.

What is the origin of the word "Monkey"?

"Monkey" comes from probably of Low German origin; akin to Moneke, name of an ape, probably of Romance origin; akin to Old Spanish mona monkey. First known use: circa 1530.