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
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Recent Examples of poking
Jon Root Outkick, FOXNews.com, 22 May 2026
Plenty of skilled directors can manipulate tension and fear while still poking us toward nervous laughter.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 22 May 2026
Spikes of speedwell look lovely poking up along the edges of paths and garden beds in summer.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 19 May 2026
The one-piece suit is designed with a twist-front V-neckline that enhances the bust with a structured lift — but without the discomfort of a poking underwire.
—Emily Weaver, PEOPLE, 18 May 2026
His neighbors baked the entire haul into an enormous pie, and left the heads of the fishes poking through as a celebration of abundance, or maybe an announcement of survival.
—Helen Rosner, New Yorker, 17 May 2026
Chandler Simpson broke a scoreless tie in the bottom of the third, poking a two-strike changeup into left to drive in Taylor Walls.
—ABC News, 16 May 2026
Aggressive bears are known to stalk, claw and even bite tourists in Great Smoky National Park, but rangers say one recent encounter involved a bear poking a hiker with its big wet nose.
—Mark Price
may 12, Charlotte Observer, 12 May 2026
With a signature hairstyle (sprigs of hair poking out the sides of her helmet), excellent shot and skating ability, Kadirova has been an undisputed hit in Ottawa.
—Hailey Salvian, New York Times, 10 May 2026
Verb
In partnership with Underdog, a popular daily fantasy sports (DFS) and pick'em betting platform, Brooks revealed a one-of-a-kind board game poking fun at SGA.
—Jon Root Outkick, FOXNews.com, 22 May 2026
Plenty of skilled directors can manipulate tension and fear while still poking us toward nervous laughter.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 22 May 2026
Spikes of speedwell look lovely poking up along the edges of paths and garden beds in summer.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 19 May 2026
The one-piece suit is designed with a twist-front V-neckline that enhances the bust with a structured lift — but without the discomfort of a poking underwire.
—Emily Weaver, PEOPLE, 18 May 2026
His neighbors baked the entire haul into an enormous pie, and left the heads of the fishes poking through as a celebration of abundance, or maybe an announcement of survival.
—Helen Rosner, New Yorker, 17 May 2026
Chandler Simpson broke a scoreless tie in the bottom of the third, poking a two-strike changeup into left to drive in Taylor Walls.
—ABC News, 16 May 2026
Aggressive bears are known to stalk, claw and even bite tourists in Great Smoky National Park, but rangers say one recent encounter involved a bear poking a hiker with its big wet nose.
—Mark Price
may 12, Charlotte Observer, 12 May 2026
With a signature hairstyle (sprigs of hair poking out the sides of her helmet), excellent shot and skating ability, Kadirova has been an undisputed hit in Ottawa.
—Hailey Salvian, New York Times, 10 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for poking
Adjective
-
Jodie Foster steps out after enjoying a leisurely brunch with her wife at Café Cluny in New York City on May 27.—
People Staff,
PEOPLE,
30 May 2026
-
Acceleration is leisurely, however, even for this group of cars.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
27 May 2026
Verb
-
Elsewhere on the trophy, there are the original rules to soccer, from 1863, which include a proscription on players having nails, iron plates, or gutta-percha—a Malaysian rubberlike material, now used in root canals—protruding from their boots.—
Sam Knight,
New Yorker,
1 June 2026
-
The cups also feature a more angular design, visibly protruding rather than gradually curving.—
Will McCurdy,
PC Magazine,
31 May 2026
Verb
-
LeBron James loves messing with that nemesis named Father Time.—
Candace Buckner,
New York Times,
14 May 2026
-
He was seen during his Tuesday practice round messing with his shoe and sock on his right foot before ultimately calling it quits.—
Mark Harris OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
13 May 2026
Verb
-
But behind the courteous gesture, there are lingering concerns of how overtourism might impact Ishigaki’s rich natural environment and potentially overwhelm its infrastructure, concerns that extend to other neighboring remote islands.—
Wayne Chang,
CNN Money,
3 June 2026
-
Many guests and patrons are regulars, lingering over martinis as a fireplace crackles in the background.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
Verb
-
Instead of running quietly in the background, sleep evangelists are shouting about its importance from the rooftops, and neuroscientists are dragging it out into the light of day on TED Talk stages for further dissection.—
Sharon Brandwein,
USA Today,
2 June 2026
-
Nasdaq shares tumbled more than 5% in the session, dragging the stock into the red week to date.—
Alex Harring,
CNBC,
2 June 2026
Adjective
-
Recovery of the bodies has been slow because of the chemicals and other hazards present at the site, Amos explained.—
Adam England,
PEOPLE,
29 May 2026
-
One of the most painful things about this disease is knowing that promising treatments are emerging, but funding barriers and manufacturing and procedural slow-downs continue to derail progress.—
Elise Esposito,
Boston Herald,
29 May 2026
Verb
-
The game was not yet codified, and teachers let students organize games without interfering in their play.—
Thomas Adam,
The Conversation,
29 May 2026
-
She was sentenced — correctly — for interfering in an election in her county and for allowing unauthorized access to the voting equipment, not for expressing her personal opinion.—
DP Opinion,
Denver Post,
20 May 2026
Verb
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The Thursday night group was seen leaving about three hours afterward, according to the NYPD, while the second odd circumstance ended after individuals were seen crawling out and leaving in a vehicle more than two and a half hours after.—
Amethyst Martinez,
USA Today,
3 June 2026
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Toddlers and babies spend their days at floor level, crawling through dust, putting hands and objects in their mouths, and breathing air closer to the ground than anyone else.—
Angela Haupt,
Time,
3 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Poking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/poking. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.
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