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 lingering
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
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 poking
Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 29 Apr. 2026
In response to shouts for everyone to get down, one administration official at a media table crawled under it, with just her high heels poking out.
—Calvin Woodward, Chicago Tribune, 26 Apr. 2026
Secret Service agents spotted a rifle poking through the fenced perimeter of the course.
—Michael Collins, USA Today, 26 Apr. 2026
In today’s context, a 1996 film that brings down a dangerous ring of child predators feels ahead of its time, but during its release, there was more emphasis on poking holes in Carcaterra’s claim that Sleepers is based on his own true life story.
—Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 25 Apr. 2026
Instead of proper metal baskets to hold tennis balls, Sam unloaded several lidless coolers from the RV, their insulation poking out through the cracks in the sides, all filled with balls.
—Nicola Harrison, PEOPLE, 25 Apr. 2026
Martha Stewart, however—perhaps the least likely superstar to do so—is poking holes in that fantasy, giving us an iconic new selfie that feels wildly relatable to anyone familiar with the mayhem of getting ready.
—Marci Robin, Allure, 24 Apr. 2026
Paul, who co-created the Apple TV+ series and drew from season one for the musical’s script and score, performs a dexterous trick, poking fun at the form’s many ridiculous tropes with an unmistakably affectionate hand.
—Naveen Kumar, Variety, 21 Apr. 2026
Most screens are lightweight but bend easily, so lift or slide them out gently to avoid warping the edges or poking holes in the mesh.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Miami Herald, 20 Apr. 2026
Verb
Nice little Rogen dig here that reminds me of This Is the End poking fun at The Green Hornet.
—Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 29 Apr. 2026
In response to shouts for everyone to get down, one administration official at a media table crawled under it, with just her high heels poking out.
—Calvin Woodward, Chicago Tribune, 26 Apr. 2026
Secret Service agents spotted a rifle poking through the fenced perimeter of the course.
—Michael Collins, USA Today, 26 Apr. 2026
In today’s context, a 1996 film that brings down a dangerous ring of child predators feels ahead of its time, but during its release, there was more emphasis on poking holes in Carcaterra’s claim that Sleepers is based on his own true life story.
—Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 25 Apr. 2026
Instead of proper metal baskets to hold tennis balls, Sam unloaded several lidless coolers from the RV, their insulation poking out through the cracks in the sides, all filled with balls.
—Nicola Harrison, PEOPLE, 25 Apr. 2026
Martha Stewart, however—perhaps the least likely superstar to do so—is poking holes in that fantasy, giving us an iconic new selfie that feels wildly relatable to anyone familiar with the mayhem of getting ready.
—Marci Robin, Allure, 24 Apr. 2026
Paul, who co-created the Apple TV+ series and drew from season one for the musical’s script and score, performs a dexterous trick, poking fun at the form’s many ridiculous tropes with an unmistakably affectionate hand.
—Naveen Kumar, Variety, 21 Apr. 2026
Most screens are lightweight but bend easily, so lift or slide them out gently to avoid warping the edges or poking holes in the mesh.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Miami Herald, 20 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for poking
Adjective
-
Spend the next few hours strolling around the Davidson College campus, shopping for a new read at Main Street Books or a charming memento at Honeysuckle Home, and having a leisurely lunch at The Pickled Peach.—
Lydia Mansel,
Southern Living,
1 May 2026
-
Riva Beach Club Sip an Aperol spritz or a glass of Swiss merlot after a leisurely lake swim at Riva Beach Club, a boutique hotel whose beachside access in Vira—the historical center of Gambarogno—is hard to beat.—
Lisa Kadane,
Travel + Leisure,
1 May 2026
Verb
-
According to court documents cited by Cleveland television station WJW, witnesses told investigators that Bryant was seen walking toward the Costco entrance with what appeared to be a drum magazine protruding from his pocket.—
Taylor Ardrey,
USA Today,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Hemorrhoids are common and treatable, but bleeding, severe pain, lingering symptoms, or protruding hemorrhoids should be checked by a doctor.—
Tom Gavin,
EverydayHealth.com,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Stop messing with Wedgie, already.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
9 Apr. 2026
-
Why are people messing with those cute little robots?—
Laura Washington,
Chicago Tribune,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
While coverage is expected to be more scattered, isolated strong to severe storms could still produce hail and gusty winds, particularly where daytime heating and lingering boundaries overlap.—
Brandi D. Addison,
USA Today,
28 Apr. 2026
-
The two men dined at a table alone, lingering long after all other diners had dispersed.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Sam instead proposes that the performer dance to it without music, a prompt that is followed by Anne Hathaway flinging herself across the room, dragging her body across the floor in a hypnotic spectacle that seems to convey struggle, possession, and loss of control.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Even the sleeker Samsonite Proxis feels substantial without dragging you over the limit.—
Chaise Sanders,
Travel + Leisure,
25 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Banchero up-and-down The Magic superstar forward got off to a slow start by opening 1-for-6 from the field, including missing his first four 3-pointers.—
Jason Beede,
The Orlando Sentinel,
2 May 2026
-
More Americans are heading into retirement without a pension, and are instead leaning on savings accounts and investment portfolios that have become increasingly subject to market swings and the slow erosion of inflation.—
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
1 May 2026
Verb
-
Several legislative efforts are currently underway to keep the federal government from interfering in California elections.—
Kate Wolffe,
Sacbee.com,
28 Apr. 2026
-
The pattern of stripes shows that the photon’s two interfering paths are wave-like, also suggesting that a quantum particle behaves much like a wave.—
Ameya Paleja,
Interesting Engineering,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Police said Morgan was seen crawling under a partially open garage door before jumping into a backyard pool.—
Michael Sinkewicz,
FOXNews.com,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Footage shared by Sky News showed the animal crawling up onto the eatery's counter.—
Adam England,
PEOPLE,
27 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Poking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/poking. Accessed 6 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
