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Synonyms

monkish

American  
[muhng-kish] / ˈmʌŋ kɪʃ /

adjective

  1. of, relating to, or resembling a monk.

    a monkish manner.


monkish British  
/ ˈmʌŋkɪʃ /

adjective

  1. of, relating to, or resembling a monk or monks

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

  • monkishly adverb
  • monkishness noun

Etymology

Origin of monkish

First recorded in 1540–50; monk + -ish 1

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

He has a monkish buzz cut, a mustache and a healthy stubble.

From Salon • Nov. 14, 2024

His voice carries along a line of “nazarenos,” or penitents, with tall conical hats, monkish robes and facial hoods.

From Seattle Times • Apr. 7, 2023

The cloister of a dozen monkish editorial staffers he inherited from his brilliant predecessor, Meg Greenfield, grew to more than 80 multimedia thinkers by the time of his death.

From Washington Post • Dec. 7, 2021

There they were placed in a dormitory occupied mostly by Indians and Sri Lankans, as well as Jermaine Rogers, a 43-year-old American with a linebacker physique and a monkish demeanor.

From New York Times • Oct. 28, 2020

During that final year in Atlanta, Chris had lived off campus in a monkish room furnished with little more than a thin mattress on the floor, milk crates, and a table.

From "Into the Wild" by Jon Krakauer