1
2
as in blow
a hard strike with a part of the body or an instrument
you'd better shut up if you don't want a poke on the nose
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in insult
an act or expression showing scorn and usually intended to hurt another's feelings
the constantly bickering husband and wife seem unable to let five minutes pass without an exchange of gratuitous pokes
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
chiefly Southern & Midland
as in pouch
a container made of a flexible material (as paper or plastic)
the old warning against buying a pig in a poke
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in to protrude
to extend outward beyond a usual point
saw his head poking through the window
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to interfere
to interest oneself in what is not one's concern
told him to stop poking into other people's business
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to linger
to move or act slowly
just poked around all morning and didn't accomplish much
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of poke
Jaclyn Cosgrove, Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2026
Privacy may struggle within a buzzing neighborhood as the Sun in your contemplative 12th house pokes indulgent Jupiter in your 3rd House of Messages.
—Tarot.com, Chicago Tribune, 5 Apr. 2026
Lexi Carson, HollywoodReporter, 25 Apr. 2026
Instead of proper metal baskets to hold tennis balls, Sam unloaded several lidless coolers from the RV, their insulation poking out through the cracks in the sides, all filled with balls.
—Nicola Harrison, PEOPLE, 25 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for poke
Noun
After securing our marinated tofu nachos and poke bowl, my wife and I sat down among other guests.
—Jaclyn Cosgrove, Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2026
Privacy may struggle within a buzzing neighborhood as the Sun in your contemplative 12th house pokes indulgent Jupiter in your 3rd House of Messages.
—Tarot.com, Chicago Tribune, 5 Apr. 2026
Verb
Earlier this month, Grenier poked fun at not being asked to return in a Starbucks ad.
—Lexi Carson, HollywoodReporter, 25 Apr. 2026
Instead of proper metal baskets to hold tennis balls, Sam unloaded several lidless coolers from the RV, their insulation poking out through the cracks in the sides, all filled with balls.
—Nicola Harrison, PEOPLE, 25 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for poke
Recent Examples of Synonyms for poke
Verb
-
Her fangs protrude, her nails lengthen.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
5 May 2026
-
Hemorrhoids are common and treatable, but bleeding, severe pain, lingering symptoms, or protruding hemorrhoids should be checked by a doctor.—
Tom Gavin,
EverydayHealth.com,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
This act interferes greatly with local departments of planning and development for erroneous climate protocols enacted by Ronald Regan.—
Kaitlyn Schallhorn,
Oc Register,
4 May 2026
-
First, my office drafted an enforceable ordinance that does not interfere in any way with the legitimate interests of the federal government in enforcing immigration laws constitutionally.—
Teresa Liu,
Daily News,
4 May 2026
Verb
-
While coverage is expected to be more scattered, isolated strong to severe storms could still produce hail and gusty winds, particularly where daytime heating and lingering boundaries overlap.—
Brandi D. Addison,
USA Today,
28 Apr. 2026
-
The two men dined at a table alone, lingering long after all other diners had dispersed.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The Carboniferous period dragged on for sixty million.—
Anthony Lane,
New Yorker,
8 May 2026
-
Perhaps the aether did exist, but it could never be construed as being in motion by an observer on the Earth, because the aether itself was being dragged by objects traveling through space, such as the Earth, explaining why a null result was obtained.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
7 May 2026
Verb
-
According to the Marietta Police Department, Constantin would mess with the vehicle's milage before selling them to unsuspecting buyers.—
Dan Raby,
CBS News,
30 Apr. 2026
-
The Giants’ position really, really messed us up in trying to even negotiate with Oakland.—
Ian Miller OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
After losing her friend Yo, Anna spends a decade obsessively building a detailed one-third-scale replica of her house — just large enough to crawl inside — where a puppet version of Yo still lives.—
Matthew Carey,
Deadline,
6 May 2026
-
Ahmed Moustafa, who operates a halal cart near Yankee Stadium, is still crawling out from the pandemic.—
Yuna Kim,
New York Daily News,
6 May 2026
Verb
-
Win it, and suddenly the series tightens, the doubt creeps in and the path gets a lot more complicated for Orlando.—
Mike Bianchi,
The Orlando Sentinel,
28 Apr. 2026
-
For another easy-to-care-for choice that relishes sunlight, look to creeping juniper and its beautifully hazy blue-green leaves.—
Melissa Epifano,
The Spruce,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Besides the risk of Oracle snooping into your business, there’s also the possibility of regulatory capture — that is, because Ellison is so tight with the Trumps, what remains of the government watchdogs won’t stop it.—
Elizabeth Lopatto,
The Verge,
29 Apr. 2026
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This leads to a lively scene where Carl and his glowering right-hand man make an impromptu visit to Hypergnosis headquarters and demand a demonstration of Duncan’s snooping network.—
Scott Tobias,
Vulture,
26 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Poke.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/poke. Accessed 8 May. 2026.
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