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• monkey wrench
  monkey wrench

  noun

  a wrench having an adjustable jaw permitting it to grasp nuts or the like of different sizes.
• monkey-wrench
  monkey-wrench

  verb (used with object)

  to ruin (plans, a schedule, etc.) unavoidably or, sometimes, deliberately.

monkey wrench

¹ American  

noun

1. especially British, adjustable spanner.  a wrench having an adjustable jaw permitting it to grasp nuts or the like of different sizes.

2. something that interferes with functioning; obstacle.

   He threw a monkey wrench into our plans.

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monkey-wrench ² American  

[muhng-kee-rench] / ˈmʌŋ kiˌrɛntʃ /

verb (used with object)

1. to ruin (plans, a schedule, etc.) unavoidably or, sometimes, deliberately.

   The storm monkey-wrenched our plans for a picnic.

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verb (used without object)

1. to prevent, delay, or sabotage industrialization or development of wilderness areas, especially through vandalism.

monkey wrench British  

noun

1. a wrench with adjustable jaws

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Other Word Forms

• monkey-wrencher
  noun

Etymology

Origin of monkey wrench¹

First recorded in 1855–60

Origin of monkey-wrench²

First recorded in 1800–10

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

monkey wrench monkey-wrench

But now two men on the federal death row in Terre Haute, Indiana have thrown a monkey wrench into Biden’s decision.

From Salon ● Jan. 11, 2025

“The last thing that a booming economy needs is to throw a monkey wrench into a system that we have that is working marvelously well.”

From Seattle Times ● Jul. 12, 2023

“To be thrown back into crisis with whatever monkey wrench happens next — I think that would be unfair.”

From Washington Post ● Mar. 19, 2022

Stroup mentioned that because the pandemic has temporarily thrown a monkey wrench into that time-honored custom, he plans ahead.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 29, 2021

A monkey wrench that would free Citra from having to glean or be gleaned by Rowan.

From "Scythe" by Neal Shusterman

But the court has yet to decide other pending cases that could monkey-wrench the regulatory system.

From Slate ● May 30, 2024

It’s an obvious effort to monkey-wrench Musk’s efforts to juice revenues to pay for the company’s debt-laden $44-billion acquisition, and the vandalism seems to have left its mark.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 16, 2022

They’re a frisky if harmless sort of monkey-wrench gang, taking their last rolls with life’s fuzzy dice.

From New York Times ● Sep. 6, 2021

She delivers a satisfying, dramatic climax that represents the comeuppance of 19th-century colonialism, as Naila and the half brothers monkey-wrench the tools of the oppressor.

From Washington Post ● Mar. 25, 2019

I can’t decide whether it needs a monkey-wrench or a mustard-plaster.

From The Valiants of Virginia by Rives, Hallie Erminie