as in leisurely
moving or proceeding at less than the normal, desirable, or required speed
the poking pace of the repair work has put everything way behind schedule
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in protruding
to extend outward beyond a usual point
saw his head poking through the window
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in messing
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 crawling
to move or act slowly
just poked around all morning and didn't accomplish much
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in dragging
to move slowly
they were just poking along home
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of poking
Charna Flam, People.com, 20 Mar. 2025
Generally, a plant whose roots are poking out will be completely root-bound.
—Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 24 Mar. 2025
Roots Growing Out Drainage Holes Roots poking out of the drainage holes at the bottom of the pot is a sure sign your plant needs a bigger pot.
—Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 24 Mar. 2025
Next to me, poking out under a rock, was a newspaper clip that had blown in from somewhere.
—Lily Ford, The Hollywood Reporter, 22 Mar. 2025
The brief clip shows an elephant slowly poking its trunk through a large open-air window and nudging it around a room at the Chai Lai Orchid.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 21 Mar. 2025
As soon as the menu was announced, fans and the golf world couldn't resist poking fun at Scheffler's ravioli choice.
—Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 20 Mar. 2025
Now, some green is poking through.
—Rachel Osier Lindley, NPR, 20 Mar. 2025
In the midst of fighting, Sarajevo’s luge track became a defensive barrier, with the city’s protectors poking holes through the concrete for gunsights.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 1 Mar. 2025
Verb
On Wednesday, March 19, the couple filmed an Instagram Reel poking fun at their recent red carpet interview with Extra at the grand re-opening of Planet Hollywood in NYC on Tuesday, March 11.
—Charna Flam, People.com, 20 Mar. 2025
Generally, a plant whose roots are poking out will be completely root-bound.
—Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 24 Mar. 2025
Roots Growing Out Drainage Holes Roots poking out of the drainage holes at the bottom of the pot is a sure sign your plant needs a bigger pot.
—Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 24 Mar. 2025
Next to me, poking out under a rock, was a newspaper clip that had blown in from somewhere.
—Lily Ford, The Hollywood Reporter, 22 Mar. 2025
The brief clip shows an elephant slowly poking its trunk through a large open-air window and nudging it around a room at the Chai Lai Orchid.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 21 Mar. 2025
As soon as the menu was announced, fans and the golf world couldn't resist poking fun at Scheffler's ravioli choice.
—Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 20 Mar. 2025
Now, some green is poking through.
—Rachel Osier Lindley, NPR, 20 Mar. 2025
In the midst of fighting, Sarajevo’s luge track became a defensive barrier, with the city’s protectors poking holes through the concrete for gunsights.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 1 Mar. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for poking
Adjective
-
Walking Faster Improves Health in Multiple Ways In addition to decreasing irregular heartbeat risks, steady and brisk walking was also connected to other improvements in overall health compared with leisurely walking.—
Tom Gavin,
EverydayHealth.com,
16 Apr. 2025
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Take a leisurely stroll through a nursery or garden center to see other planting ideas and supplies for your yard.—
Clarence Schmidt,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
16 Apr. 2025
Verb
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While tending to their garden this fall, homeowners in upstate New York spotted what appeared to be two giant teeth protruding from the soil, partially concealed by plant fronds.—
Leslie Katz,
Forbes,
20 Dec. 2024
-
According to the news release, the mastodon jaw was found protruding from the topsoil, which caught the homeowner's attention.—
Gabe Hauari,
USA TODAY,
18 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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The company reaffirmed plans to launch an affordable model in early 2025, but warned the production ramp could be slower than expected.—
Akash Sriram and Abhirup Roy,
USA Today,
25 Apr. 2025
-
The last two years have been incredibly slow, with existing home sales at their lowest levels since the mid-1990s.—
Laurel Wamsley,
NPR,
24 Apr. 2025
Verb
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That approach works better, interfering less with the maestro’s performance(s), while sleight of hand allows the actor to appear opposite himself in a handful of scenes.—
Peter Debruge,
Variety,
19 Mar. 2025
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The complaint, if upheld by the board next month, could be forwarded to the Lake County Prosecutor’s office in reference to electioneering, interfering in the polls and interfering with an election officer.—
Deborah Laverty,
Chicago Tribune,
18 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Another sign of creeping fatigue?—
Liam Twomey,
The Athletic,
5 Jan. 2025
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Invasive plants also spread quickly in multiple ways, such as by seeds, creeping stems and roots, or fruits eaten by birds and dropped elsewhere.—
Arricca Elin SanSone,
Southern Living,
5 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Magical door wash to welcome in the new To create your magic door wash, start with a glass mason jar and cleanse the space above it by ringing a bell in a clockwise motion to clear any lingering energy.—
Valerie Mesa,
People.com,
22 Mar. 2025
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From casting backlash and political dustups to a lingering conversation of how to portray the tale's dwarfs in 2025, here's a timeline detailing the Snow White live-action remake's controversies.—
Randall Colburn,
EW.com,
21 Mar. 2025
Verb
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But the $12 billion decline in his fortune has more to do with asset shuffling than stock price movement.—
Julie Goldenberg,
Forbes,
21 Dec. 2024
-
James has been shuffling back and forth between the NBA and the G League.—
Benedict Cosgrove,
Newsweek,
19 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Then something strange happened — the Falcons started playing like one of the best defenses in the league.—
Josh Kendall,
The Athletic,
26 Dec. 2024
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Deion Sanders began his NFL career with the Falcons in 1989, also playing baseball for the New York Yankees and Atlanta Braves well into the 1990s.—
Dan Pompei,
The Athletic,
26 Dec. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Poking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/poking. Accessed 4 May. 2025.
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