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
The missile launch that interrupted the social night out was a foretaste of Pyongyang’s ability to throw a monkey wrench into regional relations.
—
Michael Auslin, Foreign Affairs, 16 Feb. 2017
This does, of course, throw a monkey wrench into the possibility of sustaining a relationship.
—Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 21 Feb. 2024
The former president spends much of his time belittling others, boastfully repeating lies, characterizing himself as a martyr in the face of his many legal woes and throwing monkey wrenches into a congressional system that already barely functions.
—Robin Givhan, Washington Post, 13 Feb. 2024
Those strikes put a monkey wrench in planning this year’s event, says Śniegowska, as many studios and distributors decided to delay the release of films slated for fall premieres.
—Christopher Vourlias, Variety, 24 Oct. 2023
See all Example Sentences for monkey wrench 
Michael Auslin, Foreign Affairs, 16 Feb. 2017
This does, of course, throw a monkey wrench into the possibility of sustaining a relationship.
—Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 21 Feb. 2024
The former president spends much of his time belittling others, boastfully repeating lies, characterizing himself as a martyr in the face of his many legal woes and throwing monkey wrenches into a congressional system that already barely functions.
—Robin Givhan, Washington Post, 13 Feb. 2024
Those strikes put a monkey wrench in planning this year’s event, says Śniegowska, as many studios and distributors decided to delay the release of films slated for fall premieres.
—Christopher Vourlias, Variety, 24 Oct. 2023
See all Example Sentences for monkey wrench
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'monkey wrench.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Monkey wrench.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/monkey%20wrench. Accessed 14 Jul. 2024.
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