: 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
Illustration of monkey wrench
monkey wrench 1
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Stephanie Brinley, principal automotive analyst for North and South America, S&P Global Mobility
Despite an electric boom year in 2022, some analysts are downgrading forecasts of EV adoption, due to monkey wrenches of unpredictable demand, looming recession and supply-chain issues.—IEEE Spectrum, 12 Mar. 2023 Scull would like to throw a major monkey wrench into all of those plans.—Brian Mazique, Forbes, 6 Mar. 2025 His request for a presidential meeting flopped, becoming the latest example of a dramatic personal style that was once integral to his nation’s struggle but now looks more like a monkey wrench in dealing with the Trump administration.—Andrew E. Kramer, New York Times, 24 Feb. 2025 Conflicts could certainly throw monkey wrenches into economic forecasts, as the Russia-Ukraine war did.—Bill Conerly, Forbes, 30 Dec. 2024 See All Example Sentences for monkey wrench
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