1
2
as in blows
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 insults
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
as in pouches
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 protrudes
to extend outward beyond a usual point
saw his head poking through the window
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in interferes
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 drags
to move or act slowly
just poked around all morning and didn't accomplish much
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
Example Sentences
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show current usage.
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Recent Examples of pokes
Brian Steinberg, Variety, 29 Jan. 2026
A lot of times, these hot-button issues that are pressed, those little pokes, are more nuanced than they’re portrayed.
—Jackie Strause, HollywoodReporter, 19 Jan. 2026
In the hands of the right provider, filler can enhance and even transform your face with just a few strategic pokes.
—Kara Nesvig, Allure, 11 Nov. 2025
There weren’t any needles, pokes, or prods involved, just a simple applicator patch that stuck to the side of my stomach to help the machine navigate where to output the energy.
—Essence, 24 Sep. 2025
The rooftop pool and open-late bars draw a youngish crowd—lots of millennials with stick-and-pokes—of couples and friends, and absolutely zero kids (though the property is dog- and cat- friendly).
—Emily Wilson, Bon Appetit Magazine, 19 Sep. 2025
The non-extinction of Zaglossus attenboroughi, in the Cyclops Mountains, first suspected in 2007 on evidence of nose pokes, was confirmed.
—Rafil Kroll-Zaidi, Harpers Magazine, 20 Aug. 2025
Madison Chapman, Outside, 25 Mar. 2026
The nurturing Moon pokes Mars today, drawing attention to your 2nd House of Objects and your 11th House of Groups.
—Tarot.com, Chicago Tribune, 24 Mar. 2026
Leah pokes her head out around his legs, her eyes wild with excitement.
—Literary Hub, 23 Mar. 2026
Kellner pokes a ball into the soft spot in left-center, scoring two runs.
—Caleb Yum, Austin American Statesman, 17 Mar. 2026
One TikTok video with over 949,000 likes pokes fun at Kempczinski's review by using similar wording to judge other McDonald's items.
—Ramon Padilla, USA Today, 4 Mar. 2026
The paper pokes holes in virtually all of Campbell’s assumptions, including the idea that college sports could replicate NBA and NFL revenues by pooling their games.
—Dallas Morning News, 26 Feb. 2026
As Luna in your financial quadrant pokes the Sun in your friendship zone, money boundaries and group expectations likely tug in different directions.
—Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 24 Feb. 2026
Amazon also strikes a nerve with an ad starring Chris Hemsworth that pokes fun of people’s fears of AI.
—Dee-Ann Durbin, Fortune, 8 Feb. 2026
Noun
Pepsi has for decades taken pokes at rival Coke in an endless array of commercials, but this time, the youth-skewing cola company really means business.
—Brian Steinberg, Variety, 29 Jan. 2026
A lot of times, these hot-button issues that are pressed, those little pokes, are more nuanced than they’re portrayed.
—Jackie Strause, HollywoodReporter, 19 Jan. 2026
In the hands of the right provider, filler can enhance and even transform your face with just a few strategic pokes.
—Kara Nesvig, Allure, 11 Nov. 2025
There weren’t any needles, pokes, or prods involved, just a simple applicator patch that stuck to the side of my stomach to help the machine navigate where to output the energy.
—Essence, 24 Sep. 2025
The rooftop pool and open-late bars draw a youngish crowd—lots of millennials with stick-and-pokes—of couples and friends, and absolutely zero kids (though the property is dog- and cat- friendly).
—Emily Wilson, Bon Appetit Magazine, 19 Sep. 2025
The non-extinction of Zaglossus attenboroughi, in the Cyclops Mountains, first suspected in 2007 on evidence of nose pokes, was confirmed.
—Rafil Kroll-Zaidi, Harpers Magazine, 20 Aug. 2025
Verb
In April, ruby-red paintbrush pokes out of the ground, and in late summer, vibrant yellow rabbitbrush flowers join the mix.
—Madison Chapman, Outside, 25 Mar. 2026
The nurturing Moon pokes Mars today, drawing attention to your 2nd House of Objects and your 11th House of Groups.
—Tarot.com, Chicago Tribune, 24 Mar. 2026
Leah pokes her head out around his legs, her eyes wild with excitement.
—Literary Hub, 23 Mar. 2026
Kellner pokes a ball into the soft spot in left-center, scoring two runs.
—Caleb Yum, Austin American Statesman, 17 Mar. 2026
One TikTok video with over 949,000 likes pokes fun at Kempczinski's review by using similar wording to judge other McDonald's items.
—Ramon Padilla, USA Today, 4 Mar. 2026
The paper pokes holes in virtually all of Campbell’s assumptions, including the idea that college sports could replicate NBA and NFL revenues by pooling their games.
—Dallas Morning News, 26 Feb. 2026
As Luna in your financial quadrant pokes the Sun in your friendship zone, money boundaries and group expectations likely tug in different directions.
—Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 24 Feb. 2026
Amazon also strikes a nerve with an ad starring Chris Hemsworth that pokes fun of people’s fears of AI.
—Dee-Ann Durbin, Fortune, 8 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pokes
Verb
-
The lone camera is a single round lens that protrudes from the upper-left corner of the rear panel.—
Eric Zeman,
PC Magazine,
9 Mar. 2026
-
The other two types are subserosal (which protrudes on the outside of the uterus) and intramural (which grow within the muscle layer).—
Beth Krietsch,
SELF,
2 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
If Washington overtly interferes in European elections or takes the dramatic step of annexing Greenland, the postwar alliance framework, already strained, could fracture.—
Ian Bremmer,
Time,
6 Jan. 2026
-
This Ministry frequently interferes in employers’ decisions, instigates acts of discrimination by authorities and organizations, brings weight to bear on the organs of justice and even orchestrates propaganda campaigns in the media.—
Jonny Diamond,
Literary Hub,
10 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
As the war drags on, Americans are growing pessimistic about the economy, according to some surveys and polls.—
Bryan Mena,
CNN Money,
1 Apr. 2026
-
And in late February, just as attention began to shift away from Gaza, Israel and the United States launched a joint attack on Iran—a potentially epochal war that may end up dividing Jewish Americans no less than the Gaza war did, particularly if the conflict drags on and casualties mount.—
Eyal Press,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
In the book, Grace drags Rocky back to his part of the ship, exposing himself to the Eridian environment; in the film, Rocky crawls back while Grace is unconscious.—
Matthew Razak,
Space.com,
23 Mar. 2026
-
The Shops at Yale recently announced the return of the New Haven food crawls and have added a date in December, according to a statement.—
Staff Report,
Hartford Courant,
18 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), a brain aneurysm is a weakened area in an artery that bulges outward and fills with blood.—
Lucy Notarantonio,
MSNBC Newsweek,
27 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The latter may be tied to iron deficiency from irregular periods, plus the drop in estrogen, which messes with the dopamine activity that regulates muscle control.—
Erica Sloan,
SELF,
24 Mar. 2026
-
Each has a meltdown worthy of a telenovela, messes with the crime scene and hours later the police are called.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
In the premiere, Aunt Lydia’s promise lingers over Offred’s head like the blade of a guillotine.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Thus, the question lingers—If removing Steve Bannon from the CPAC speaker lineup results in getting AT&T as an event sponsor instead of Patriot Mobile, is that a win or a loss for MAGA?—
Alex J. Rouhandeh,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The same game of legislative chicken now starts anew as the calendar creeps toward April.—
Steve Bousquet,
Sun Sentinel,
14 Mar. 2026
-
This time round, though, an unfortunate silliness sometimes creeps in, where the film risks tipping over Shakespearean-size emotions into embarrassing bathos.—
Miriam Balanescu,
IndieWire,
5 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pokes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pokes. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.
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