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 crawl
to move or act slowly
just poked around all morning and didn't accomplish much
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Examples Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of poke
Steven Zeitchik, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2019
For all these reasons, both derms recommend asking your injector for more common (and safer) methods to ease pain or anxiety, like topical numbing creams or vibration devices (which can distract you from the sharp pokes).
—Jenna Ryu, SELF, 9 Sep. 2024
Erin Alberty, Axios, 10 Dec. 2024
Throughout the special, the comedian poked fun at the uncomfortable parts of recovery — from full-body baths to grueling physical therapy — with irreverent charm.
—Edward Segarra, USA TODAY, 10 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for poke 
Noun
At the start of the 2024 Emmys telecast, co-host Eugene Levy took a poke at the unconventional choice of the leading comedy nomination-getter in Emmys history.
—Steven Zeitchik, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2019
For all these reasons, both derms recommend asking your injector for more common (and safer) methods to ease pain or anxiety, like topical numbing creams or vibration devices (which can distract you from the sharp pokes).
—Jenna Ryu, SELF, 9 Sep. 2024
Verb
Officers there found three girls, 11 to 14, in an unventilated trailer after a passer-by noticed their fingers poking through slats in the door.
—Erin Alberty, Axios, 10 Dec. 2024
Throughout the special, the comedian poked fun at the uncomfortable parts of recovery — from full-body baths to grueling physical therapy — with irreverent charm.
—Edward Segarra, USA TODAY, 10 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for poke
Recent Examples of Synonyms for poke
Verb
-
However, a closer look at the footage revealed that the insects never touched the spider webs with their protruding front legs.Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 4 Dec. 2024
-
The image, showing two bare feet protruding from a gap between rocks, was impossible to escape on the internet this week.Frederick Dreier, Outside Online, 26 Oct. 2024
Verb
-
Neither the attorney general nor my office interfered nor influenced that process.Arlyssa D. Becenti, The Arizona Republic, 16 Dec. 2024
-
That may be because such costs are difficult for a president to control without interfering in the free market, even as Trump hammered President Joe Biden on the issue.Sam Woodward, USA TODAY, 12 Dec. 2024
Verb
-
Some sailors clung to mooring lines, crawling across to find safety.Frank Witsil, Detroit Free Press, 6 Dec. 2024
-
The creature then rips her mouth open and crawls inside.EW Staff, EW.com, 5 Dec. 2024
Verb
-
When the crime bosses checked in for their table assignments, they were arrested and dragged away so as not to tip off the next suspect.Mike Fleming Jr, Deadline, 13 Dec. 2024
-
Wray said stepping down is the right thing to do for the FBI and will help avoid dragging it deeper into the fray, NPR's Ryan Lucas tells Up First.Brittney Melton, NPR, 12 Dec. 2024
Verb
-
Georgia Tech coach Brent Key quietly has turned a Yellow Jackets mess back into a solid program.Chris Vannini, The Athletic, 19 Aug. 2024
-
Best Walmart Black Friday Cordless Vacuum Deals Cordless vacuums can make cleaning up small, everyday messes a simple task.Rachel Trujillo, People.com, 29 Nov. 2024
Verb
-
Fire activity around Pepperdine University’s Malibu campus has decreased, with only small flames remaining as firefighters tackle lingering hot spots, the school alerted at 9:58 p.m. Tuesday.Hanna Park, Robert Shackelford and Mary Gilbert, CNN, 11 Dec. 2024
-
The finish is long and sweet, with lingering notes of vanilla, caramel, spice, and seasoned oak.Joseph V Micallef, Forbes, 11 Dec. 2024
Verb
-
That is still low by historical standards, although the rate has crept up from 3.7% at the start of the year.Don Lee, Los Angeles Times, 6 Dec. 2024
-
That may allow patchwork-style legislation to creep into the AI sector.Meghan Hall, Sourcing Journal, 6 Dec. 2024
Verb
-
That, combined with a quick Congressional quashing of pending FCC privacy regulations, also left the commission powerless to stop broadband providers from snooping on their customers.Rob Pegoraro, PCMAG, 6 Nov. 2024
-
Caught snooping What a weirdo pic.twitter.com/jjobqAomhp — v (@vgveegeevg) October 7, 2024 SnoopyWeekly’s silence on the election was deafening.Kate Lindsay, Vulture, 1 Nov. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near poke
Cite this Entry
“Poke.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/poke. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share