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 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.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of poke
Bradley Hohulin, IndyStar, 2 Mar. 2026
Nedeljkovic’s biggest save may have come on a Sharks third-period power play, as Barron came in alone and eluded a poke check from the San Jose goalie.
—Curtis Pashelka, Mercury News, 2 Mar. 2026
Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 7 Mar. 2026
Weeks later, the congresswoman could still the fractured bones in his forearm poking up under the skin.
—ABC News, 6 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for poke
Noun
The casual pan-Asian eatery on the north end of Mass Ave also offers poke ($17 to $18), sushi rolls and sashimi ($10 to $18) along with a handful of appetizers like dumplings, egg rolls and tempura, all of which cost $5.
—Bradley Hohulin, IndyStar, 2 Mar. 2026
Nedeljkovic’s biggest save may have come on a Sharks third-period power play, as Barron came in alone and eluded a poke check from the San Jose goalie.
—Curtis Pashelka, Mercury News, 2 Mar. 2026
Verb
Every other day, poke your finger into the soil to check the top 2 inches for dryness and water if needed.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 7 Mar. 2026
Weeks later, the congresswoman could still the fractured bones in his forearm poking up under the skin.
—ABC News, 6 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for poke
Recent Examples of Synonyms for poke
Verb
-
The front tire was flat, with a screw protruding from it.—
Shira Moolten,
Sun Sentinel,
12 Mar. 2026
-
The protruding exterior door handles are easy to grab with heavy gloves on and look good.—
Andrew P. Collins,
The Drive,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Seiler argues that voters elected Freidenrich and therefore the Board should not interfere.—
Jodi Balma,
Oc Register,
15 Mar. 2026
-
With many fans cheering him on, one interfered and led him off course.—
Assistant Sports Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
This is a day for speaking plainly and clearing up lingering misunderstandings.—
Tarot.com,
Hartford Courant,
11 Mar. 2026
-
Showers may linger through the mid-morning.—
Caroline Zimmerman,
Kansas City Star,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The war continued to escalate on its 13th day as oil prices spiraled up again to $100 per barrel, and stocks sank worldwide over fears that the conflict could drag on longer than hoped.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
13 Mar. 2026
-
Even with the massive emergency release, analysts said that strategic reserves can cover only a fraction of the supply loss if the conflict dragged on.—
Lee Ying Shan,
CNBC,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
And all of this can mess with the crosstalk between the nerves in your gut and your brain, triggering gut spasms.—
Erica Sloan,
SELF,
13 Mar. 2026
-
If a co-worker interrupts a research stretch, calmly propose another time to avoid offending them or messing with your pre-set schedule.—
Tarot.com,
Sun Sentinel,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Hanson, who spends much of his life crawling through underbrush to count trees, plunged ahead into stands of chest-high ceanothus, pointing out sequoias camouflaged in the pervasive post-fire brush.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
13 Mar. 2026
-
Related groups of animals, such as the ancestors of today’s millipedes, crawled out of the sea a bit earlier than insects did.—
Andrew Coletti,
Popular Science,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Joseph also responded to worries about facial recognition and other surveillance technologies creeping into the system by emphasizing the cameras used in San Jose only record vehicles’ license plates.—
Robert Salonga,
Mercury News,
10 Mar. 2026
-
That familiar feeling of fullness crept in.—
Evan Moore,
Charlotte Observer,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Although privacy advocates have praised the ability of encryption to effectively scramble messages so third parties are unable to snoop on people’s conversations, various members of law enforcement have said that doing so impedes their ability to investigate certain crimes.—
Jonathan Vanian,
CNBC,
20 Feb. 2026
-
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
Cite this Entry
“Poke.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/poke. Accessed 18 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
