1
as in protruded
to extend outward beyond a usual point
saw his head poking through the window
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in interfered
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 lingered
to move or act slowly
just poked around all morning and didn't accomplish much
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in dragged
to move slowly
they were just poking along home
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of poked
Even at the height of his fame, there were dubious aspects of his personal life — often self-seeded to sustain his enigma — that poked hellified holes in his impermeability as an entertainer.
—
Rodney Carmichael, NPR, 3 June 2026
In the roadside planters, green sprouts poked up.
—Eleanor Nash, Kansas City Star, 3 June 2026
Later, Jackson poked fun at Combs, who hired a videographer to follow him around New York in the days leading up to his September 2024 arrest.
—Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 3 June 2026
Even Parsons himself poked fun at such notions.
—Ryan Gajewski, HollywoodReporter, 1 June 2026
Before police took him into custody, Tran slit his wrists, cut his neck and poked the blade into his stomach, but all of the wounds were superficial.
—Sean Emery, Oc Register, 1 June 2026
John Oliver poked fun at the Freedom 250 concert facing a wave of cancellations.
—Sharareh Drury, Entertainment Weekly, 1 June 2026
Connecticut’s Brittney Griner (rib injury) returned from a four-game absence but left the game for good late in the first half after she was apparently poked in the eye.
—Los Angeles Times, 31 May 2026
Connecticut's Brittney Griner (rib injury) returned from a four-game absence but left the game for good late in the first half after she was apparently poked in the eye.
—ABC News, 30 May 2026
Rodney Carmichael, NPR, 3 June 2026
In the roadside planters, green sprouts poked up.
—Eleanor Nash, Kansas City Star, 3 June 2026
Later, Jackson poked fun at Combs, who hired a videographer to follow him around New York in the days leading up to his September 2024 arrest.
—Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 3 June 2026
Even Parsons himself poked fun at such notions.
—Ryan Gajewski, HollywoodReporter, 1 June 2026
Before police took him into custody, Tran slit his wrists, cut his neck and poked the blade into his stomach, but all of the wounds were superficial.
—Sean Emery, Oc Register, 1 June 2026
John Oliver poked fun at the Freedom 250 concert facing a wave of cancellations.
—Sharareh Drury, Entertainment Weekly, 1 June 2026
Connecticut’s Brittney Griner (rib injury) returned from a four-game absence but left the game for good late in the first half after she was apparently poked in the eye.
—Los Angeles Times, 31 May 2026
Connecticut's Brittney Griner (rib injury) returned from a four-game absence but left the game for good late in the first half after she was apparently poked in the eye.
—ABC News, 30 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for poked
Verb
-
The hilt of a sword protruded from his back, snug beside a pack as tight as an angry fist.—
Jeff Spry,
Space.com,
18 May 2026
-
Under the flaps of his jacket there was a small tear in his T-shirt, directly over his left nipple, which protruded like a knot of purple rope.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
14 May 2026
Verb
-
Bliss made a furious comeback before Michin interfered, leading to a four-woman brawl on the outside.—
Alfred Konuwa,
Forbes.com,
29 May 2026
-
Police said one man interfered as officers tried to assist the victim and refused to back away, ignoring multiple warnings.—
Karen Kucher,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
14 May 2026
Verb
-
Cholowsky and the bat boy lingered in their embrace, clinging to the final remnants of a season neither seemed ready to leave behind.—
Ira Gorawara,
New York Times,
1 June 2026
-
Amtrak said later Monday the south tunnel was back up and running, but delays lingered at Newark's Penn Station.—
Jesse Zanger,
CBS News,
1 June 2026
Verb
-
Although Schwarze ultimately prevailed, the party’s divisions were on display as the endorsement battle dragged on through six ballots.—
Jay Gabler,
Twin Cities,
30 May 2026
-
But as his contentious divorce and custody battle against Jolie dragged on, reports emerged in 2021 that Maddox had testified in the case.—
Martha Ross,
Mercury News,
29 May 2026
Verb
-
Her stomach bulged beneath her I ❤ FLORIDA boatneck and her face was round and waxy-pale.—
Stephen King,
The Atlantic,
15 May 2026
-
The Apple engineers’ eyes bulged in astonishment.—
Business Columnist,
Los Angeles Times,
24 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
This man is not to be messed with.—
Erin Qualey,
Vulture,
29 May 2026
-
This mash-up is not a dish to be messed with.—
Kaitlyn Yarborough,
Southern Living,
17 May 2026
Verb
-
He was buried alive on a construction site and then poisoned by a venomous rattlesnake that crawled into his coffin and attacked him.—
Monica Mercuri,
Forbes.com,
31 May 2026
-
The truck driver crawled to the side of the road and the gunman fled.—
Kristi Miller,
Twin Cities,
26 May 2026
Verb
-
The Waffle House waitress said the building’s management was inattentive to a raft of deeper issues, from sewage backups that crept into her bathtub to mold and a malfunctioning air conditioning unit.—
Ben Paviour,
Sacbee.com,
27 May 2026
-
At the other end of the spectrum, there were a number of clubs with lower possession numbers who crept into positions higher up the table.—
Jon Mackenzie,
New York Times,
27 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Poked.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/poked. Accessed 9 Jun. 2026.
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