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
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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
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1
as in to protrude
to extend outward beyond a usual point
saw his head poking through the window
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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
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3
as in to crawl
to move or act slowly
just poked around all morning and didn't accomplish much
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Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of poke
Grant Brisbee, The Athletic, 5 Aug. 2024
There are a bunch of different kinds of poke, a bunch of ahi, some crab poke, salmon poke, even poke with limpets, these little sand dollar things.
—Megan Spurrell, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 Sep. 2024
Heidi Finley, Charlotte Observer, 8 Jan. 2025
Nikki Glaser earned widespread acclaim for her hosting duties at the 2025 Golden Globes, where her monologue poked fun at Diddy, Ben Affleck and Timothée Chalamet’s mustache.
—Zack Sharf, Variety, 6 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for poke 
Noun
Here’s where Casey Schmitt’s ball lands: A good poke.
—Grant Brisbee, The Athletic, 5 Aug. 2024
There are a bunch of different kinds of poke, a bunch of ahi, some crab poke, salmon poke, even poke with limpets, these little sand dollar things.
—Megan Spurrell, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 Sep. 2024
Verb
What to try: Oysters on the half shell, steamed mussels or tuna poke.
—Heidi Finley, Charlotte Observer, 8 Jan. 2025
Nikki Glaser earned widespread acclaim for her hosting duties at the 2025 Golden Globes, where her monologue poked fun at Diddy, Ben Affleck and Timothée Chalamet’s mustache.
—Zack Sharf, Variety, 6 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for poke
Recent Examples of Synonyms for poke
Verb
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Out of her spine emerges a creature with too many appendages, body parts in the wrong places, and Elisabeth’s face protruding from her back.Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 8 Jan. 2025
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Identifiable by their protruding upper jaw and spiny bodies, the new species had a few key features that set them apart.Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 2 Jan. 2025
Verb
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In 2023, however, Trudeau learned that the Chinese state had been interfering in Canadian elections for some time.David Frum, The Atlantic, 15 Jan. 2025
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Their agreeing to interfere came right after Trump spoke by phone with Alito, ostensibly about an applicant for an agency general counsel position that had been an Alito clerk.New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 11 Jan. 2025
Verb
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If no shelter is available, crawl to an interior wall away from windows.Daniella Segura, Sacramento Bee, 10 Jan. 2025
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The two girls then left Leutner alone to crawl out of the forest and find help.Paul Du Quenoy, Newsweek, 10 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Trump is right to try to end the conflict; a war that drags on indefinitely could eventually turn Ukraine into a failed state.Charles A. Kupchan, The Atlantic, 10 Jan. 2025
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Polls show approval ratings for Yoon’s ruling party have been rising as the crisis drags on.Ryan Hogg, Fortune Asia, 10 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Some big studios completely changed their films very close to the finish line, which sometimes can mess things up.Scott Roxborough, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 Jan. 2025
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The most successful, or at least fascinating, of these movies tends to mess in one way or another with his seemingly carefree relationship to notions of authenticity or identity.Alissa Wilkinson, New York Times, 29 Dec. 2024
Verb
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The dry down reveals creamy tonka bean and sandalwood base notes, grounding the composition with a soft, cashmere-like warmth that lingers beautifully.Kimberly Wilson, Essence, 10 Jan. 2025
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Warren went first, while Poles lingered longer for a private moment with his quarterback.Adam Jahns, The Athletic, 10 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Mortgage rates have crept back over 7% to start the new year in a potentially troublesome development for the housing market that has struggled under the weight of higher interest rates for two years that have priced people out of the market and slowed sales to 20-year lows.Austin Denean, Baltimore Sun, 17 Jan. 2025
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The drama creeps in gradually, like a gray poison slowly infecting the air.Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 17 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Entertainment gossip and news from Newsweek's network of contributors Anyone in a committed relationship knows snooping through your partner's phone is usually a no-go.Kevin Lynn, Newsweek, 7 Jan. 2025
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Or that Jimmy was snooping, saw Louis’ text on Alice’s phone, then had Alice tell him where to find Louis?Vlada Gelman, TVLine, 27 Dec. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near poke
Cite this Entry
“Poke.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/poke. Accessed 21 Jan. 2025.
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