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
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of poke
Air Mail, 9 Aug. 2025
At Scott’s Seafood Roundhouse, executive chef Nick Blessing’s raw bar menu features sampler platters with a pescatarian collage of poke, aguachile and shellfish.
—Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 8 Aug. 2025
Joseph O'Sullivan, Forbes.com, 6 Sep. 2025
Mercifully, the gaijin of it all isn’t used to poke fun at Japanese customs, or to raise an eyebrow at the country’s unorthodox solution to the social crisis at hand.
—David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 6 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for poke
Noun
The Parisian power-lunch spot has teamed up with Happier Grocery for an off-menu poke bowl that’s basically a flex in a compostable container.
—Air Mail, 9 Aug. 2025
At Scott’s Seafood Roundhouse, executive chef Nick Blessing’s raw bar menu features sampler platters with a pescatarian collage of poke, aguachile and shellfish.
—Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 8 Aug. 2025
Verb
New Bayern Munich signing Luis Díaz strolled down the left flank before cutting inside and poking a cross along the six-yard line.
—Joseph O'Sullivan, Forbes.com, 6 Sep. 2025
Mercifully, the gaijin of it all isn’t used to poke fun at Japanese customs, or to raise an eyebrow at the country’s unorthodox solution to the social crisis at hand.
—David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 6 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for poke
Recent Examples of Synonyms for poke
Verb
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Sharks are often imagined cruising just beneath the waves, dorsal fin protruding from the dark, ocean waters to alert people of their incoming doom.—
Melissa Cristina Márquez,
Forbes.com,
1 Sep. 2025
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Hammer four nails about an inch apart into a cross shape at the center of your board so that the heads protrude at least an inch.—
Peter Barrett,
Outside,
30 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Some individuals were detained, and one of their family members tried to interfere and hit an officer, police said.—
Harriet Ramos,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
9 Sep. 2025
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But the coach allegedly interfered in that meeting too.—
Jackson Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
9 Sep. 2025
Verb
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On Wednesday, a similar scene closely followed as the funeral procession for Kansas City, Kansas, police officer Hunter Simoncic crawled along through the highways and streets in the community Simoncic worked to keep safe.—
Emily Curiel,
Kansas City Star,
3 Sep. 2025
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Eby crawled across a ladder over the water to the vehicle, then crawled back with the child on his back, the video shows.—
Don Sweeney,
Sacbee.com,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
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This is not about dragging NATO into war.—
David A. Deptula,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
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After being struck from behind, he was dragged to the ground and mauled him, with other lions joined in, per Khaosod English.—
Escher Walcott,
PEOPLE,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The last two seasons have proven that the team starts off slow, which ends up messing their chances of making the playoffs.—
James Brizuela,
MSNBC Newsweek,
2 Sep. 2025
-
The Marlins may also potentially mess things for the Phillies quest at avoiding the NL’s third-best record or Detroit’s bid at staying as the team with the top record in the AL.—
Larry Fleisher,
Forbes.com,
1 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Yet with so many worries lingering, even after Shi’s attempt to reassure them, confidence is as low as at any time in his nine years at the helm.—
Steve Madeley,
New York Times,
5 Sep. 2025
-
The tension lingers throughout the meal, leaving the family divided.—
Ashley Vega,
PEOPLE,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The jobs report from July shattered the narrative that the economy of 2025 was strong, revising previous figures downward and revealing something close to an 80% collapse in hiring, even as inflation crept upwards and layoffs rolled.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
8 Sep. 2025
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Most bills still require 60 votes to creep forward, and there are no signs of that level of Senate support for so clearly defying Trump.—
Philip Elliott,
Time,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
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In the film, Shy is played by Jay Lycurgo, an alternately sensitive and intimidating young actor in his breakout role, and the bag doesn’t appear until midway through, when the film crew go snooping without permission in the students’ room.—
Peter Debruge,
Variety,
6 Sep. 2025
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Potential trouble arises when the wily victim of Danny’s, Pauline, starts snooping around the house, hears Danny’s voice and starts to bargain for her silence.—
Pete Hammond,
Deadline,
6 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Poke.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/poke. Accessed 12 Sep. 2025.
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