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Definition of monkish

monkish

/ˈmʌŋ.kɪʃ/
monk · ish
Adverb:monkishly
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monkish Lexical Profile

monkish Game Scores & Validity

• adjective

1

Relating to, characteristic of, or resembling a monk or monastic life, especially in being solitary, austere, or celibate.

Example

"The scholar lived a quiet, monkish existence in a small apartment filled with ancient manuscripts."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for monkish
Antonyms
View all antonyms for monkish

Word Nuance & Usage

While 'monastic' is the standard neutral or formal adjective for relating to monks and monasteries, 'monkish' is more informal and sometimes carries a slightly disparaging connotation of excessive austerity, seclusion, or narrow-minded piety.

• Rhymes for monkish

• Nearby Words

monkfish
monkfruit
monkhood
monkish
monklike
monkshood
mono

Word Origin & Etymology

From Middle English 'monkish', formed from 'monk' (Old English 'munuc', from Late Latin 'monachus' and Ancient Greek 'monakhos', meaning 'solitary') plus the adjectival suffix '-ish'.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Monkish. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/monkish
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