monkeyish

A child makes a monkeyish face in the mirror.

Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Resembling or characteristic of a monkey: "monkeyish" describes someone or something that behaves, looks, or has qualities similar to a monkey, often implying playfulness, mischievousness, or a lack of seriousness.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • His monkeyish antics made everyone laugh at the party. (His playful, mischievous behavior was like that of a monkey.)
  • The child had a monkeyish grin, full of impish delight. (The child's smile was mischievous and playful, reminiscent of a monkey.)
  • Her monkeyish curiosity led her to explore every corner of the attic. (Her curious, restless nature was similar to a monkey's.)

Advanced Usage

• "monkeyish behavior": actions that are playful, mischievous, or silly, often in a way that mimics a monkey.
  • The teacher scolded the students for their monkeyish behavior in class. (The students were acting in a playful, disruptive manner.)
• "monkeyish features": physical traits that resemble those of a monkey, such as a long face or prominent ears.
  • The portrait captured his monkeyish features with surprising accuracy. (The painting showed his face's monkey-like qualities.)

Variants and Related Words

• Monkey (n): a small to medium-sized primate, often used figuratively to mean a mischievous person.
  • He's a little monkey, always getting into trouble. (He is a playful, mischievous child.)
• Monkeyishness (n): the quality of being monkeyish; playfulness or mischievousness.
  • Her monkeyishness was endearing to her friends. (Her playful, mischievous nature was charming.)

Synonyms

• Apish: resembling an ape; imitative or foolish.
• Simian: relating to or resembling monkeys or apes.
• Mischievous: causing or showing a fondness for causing trouble in a playful way.
• Playful: fond of games and amusement; lighthearted.

Related Idioms

• Monkey around: to behave in a silly or playful way; to waste time.
  • Stop monkeying around and get to work! (Stop being playful and wasting time.)
• Monkey business: dishonest or mischievous behavior.
  • I don't want any monkey business during the exam. (I don't want any cheating or foolish behavior.)