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
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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
Jackie Strause, HollywoodReporter, 19 Jan. 2026
The Louisvillian has gotten used to the poke, knowing firsthand how his temporary discomfort can be of long-lasting help.
—Matthew Glowicki, Louisville Courier Journal, 14 Jan. 2026
Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 18 Jan. 2026
Having just triumphed in his plan to use a radio tower in the Upside Down to poke a rift into the Abyss and defeat the Mind Flayer once and for all (one of many shark-jumping moments in the series finale), the character lost his footing and seemed headed for a gruesome splat.
—Devon Ivie, Vulture, 16 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for poke
Noun
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
The Louisvillian has gotten used to the poke, knowing firsthand how his temporary discomfort can be of long-lasting help.
—Matthew Glowicki, Louisville Courier Journal, 14 Jan. 2026
Verb
Remove bread from oven; poke all over using a wooden pick.
—Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 18 Jan. 2026
Having just triumphed in his plan to use a radio tower in the Upside Down to poke a rift into the Abyss and defeat the Mind Flayer once and for all (one of many shark-jumping moments in the series finale), the character lost his footing and seemed headed for a gruesome splat.
—Devon Ivie, Vulture, 16 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for poke
Recent Examples of Synonyms for poke
Verb
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They’re typically installed above kitchen sinks and provide more light than standard windows, but their protruding design adds weight and insulation considerations.—
Roxanne Downer,
USA Today,
22 Jan. 2026
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Photos from the night Anthony died showed a protruding door hinge on Anthony's bathroom door, revealing the ligature risk remained.—
Carol Thompson,
CBS News,
21 Jan. 2026
Verb
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And all the while, our gutless politicians watch from the sidelines so as to not interfere and risk angering their party.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
27 Jan. 2026
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The match ended in disqualification after Finn Balor interfered.—
Alfred Konuwa,
Forbes.com,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Clean trash can spills or stains right away so odors don’t linger.—
Mary Cornetta,
Better Homes & Gardens,
21 Jan. 2026
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Delray Municipal Beach is easy to reach and even easier to enjoy, with clear blue water, wide stretches of sand, and cabana rentals available for those planning to linger.—
Lauren Dana Ellman,
Travel + Leisure,
21 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Reynolds said more than 100 tiny homes placed on the campus for veterans who had camped on nearby San Vicente Boulevard have proved to be difficult for those using wheelchairs and walkers, are subject to fire and are not suitable for stays that can drag on for months.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Jan. 2026
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In its short lifespan, the Outback Wilderness done its part to drag that toward the middle.—
Byron Hurd,
The Drive,
22 Jan. 2026
Verb
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In reality, your body is constantly regulating them on its own, and messing with that process can be problematic.—
Rachel Reiff Ellis,
SELF,
23 Jan. 2026
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But Miami doesn’t want to take Mensah to mess with Duke for funsies any more than Duke wants to keep Mensah to stick it to Miami.—
Dana O’Neil,
CNN Money,
21 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Trying to make as little noise as possible, Kajumba would crawl into bed, crowded with hot limbs, and attempt to sleep.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
22 Jan. 2026
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Researchers found that increasing the finger count from three to five improved the hand’s crawling efficiency, but adding more beyond that resulted in diminishing returns.—
Mack DeGeurin,
Popular Science,
22 Jan. 2026
Verb
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And despite the invitation count, family demands can creep in for weddings.—
Nicole Fallert,
USA Today,
20 Jan. 2026
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Its ribbed hem and cuffs give it that bomber structure, but also help seal the jacket to prevent drafts from creeping in.—
Jasmine Gomez,
Travel + Leisure,
19 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Harry suggested that information had come from eavesdropping on his phone calls or having private investigators snoop on him.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
21 Jan. 2026
-
Untrustworthy employees There have been cases where employees at security companies snooped through camera feeds.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
14 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Poke.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/poke. Accessed 28 Jan. 2026.
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