Illustration of monkey wrench
- monkey wrench 1
monkey wrench
noun
1
: a wrench with one fixed and one adjustable jaw at right angles to a straight handle
2
: something that disrupts
threw a monkey wrench into the peace negotiations
Examples of monkey wrench in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Trump is potentially threatening to throw another monkey wrench into the team's plans to return to D.C. after nearly three decades playing in Landover, Maryland.
—
Jim Reineking, USA Today, 21 July 2025
Though the rain on May 31 threw a massive monkey wrench into the festivities, drawing an apology from Questlove to fans, things got better on June 1 (for the most part).
—Andre Gee, Rolling Stone, 2 June 2025
Think of it like the proverbial monkey wrench left in your car’s engine by a careless mechanic.
—Howard Cohen, Miami Herald, 30 May 2025
Moments after the judge set a May 27 hearing for the bench trial on damages only, Knight threw a giant monkey wrench into the proceeding.
—Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 22 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for monkey wrench
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Jim Reineking, USA Today, 21 July 2025
Though the rain on May 31 threw a massive monkey wrench into the festivities, drawing an apology from Questlove to fans, things got better on June 1 (for the most part).
—Andre Gee, Rolling Stone, 2 June 2025
Think of it like the proverbial monkey wrench left in your car’s engine by a careless mechanic.
—Howard Cohen, Miami Herald, 30 May 2025
Moments after the judge set a May 27 hearing for the bench trial on damages only, Knight threw a giant monkey wrench into the proceeding.
—Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 22 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for monkey wrench
Cite this Entry
“Monkey wrench.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/monkey%20wrench. Accessed 3 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share