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
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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to linger
to move or act slowly
just poked around all morning and didn't accomplish much
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of poke
Rob Picheta,
CNN Money,
27 June 2026
Here's how to make the beloved cinnamon poke cake recipe, including tips for customizing the recipe.
—
Sarah Martens,
Better Homes & Gardens,
23 June 2026
Sophia Beams,
Better Homes & Gardens,
27 June 2026
Indeed, when Orion disappears below the western horizon during spring evenings, the Scorpion is poking his head up in the southeast.
—
Joe Rao,
Space.com,
26 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for poke
Noun
Artisan and his coaching partner, Ike Shehadeh, poke and prod at every part of his group’s personalities.
—
Rob Picheta,
CNN Money,
27 June 2026
Here's how to make the beloved cinnamon poke cake recipe, including tips for customizing the recipe.
—
Sarah Martens,
Better Homes & Gardens,
23 June 2026
Verb
If their edges are poking out from your ice sphere, your ice will melt and break apart faster.
—
Sophia Beams,
Better Homes & Gardens,
27 June 2026
Indeed, when Orion disappears below the western horizon during spring evenings, the Scorpion is poking his head up in the southeast.
—
Joe Rao,
Space.com,
26 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for poke
Recent Examples of Synonyms for poke
Noun
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They were controlled by two sets of levers, with plastic buttons that made the combatants throw left jabs and right uppercuts.
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This response could be seen as a subtle jab at Phoenix Mercury head coach Nate Tibbetts and ESPN’s Chiney Ogwumike.
Noun
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Vingegaard’s victory at the Giro d’Italia in May, allied with Wout Van Aert’s cathartic win at Paris-Roubaix, has delivered two key objectives but the surprise departure of head of racing Grischa Niermann to Lidl-Trek was a blow.
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Hers is a voice that ought to have a lifetime’s staying power, bolstered by a lyrical and musical sensibility that provide everything her instrument needs to deliver a happy succession of knockout blows.
Noun
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According to Spell and members of his congregation, the man had a history of verbally harassing them with threats, insults and racial slurs.
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Michael Lind, the writer and New America co-founder, argues in Commonplace, the magazine of Oren Cass’s American Compass, that a decent wage and a safety net should be enough, and that handing workers a stake in capital insults the dignity of their labor.
Noun
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For just $18, this set includes four cubes in different sizes, along with a shoe bag, laundry bag, and cosmetic pouch to keep every travel essential in its place.
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Protect leather shoes and handbags by storing them in airtight containers with the silica gel pouches they are packaged with.
Verb
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The skinny braids wrapped the bottom of the bun, while the thicker braids dressed the top, forming a cylinder shape that protruded from the crown of her head.
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The apartment's one window, protruding from the zinc roof, faces west, putting it in direct sun from midday to dusk.
Verb
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Here’s when to watch and how to catch the best views before bright moonlight interferes.
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One area where the government interfered rather aggressively in the economy concerned the rates and tariffs the railroads charged.
Verb
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FireSat will help incident commanders get better information more quickly, and, unlike fire-spotting aircraft, the satellites can linger over a fire for days or weeks and aren’t hampered by high winds or smoke.
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The severe weather threat will linger for parts of the mid-Atlantic on Sunday, stretching from northern Virginia into southern New Jersey, with cities like Richmond, DC, Baltimore and Philly in the threat zone once again.
Verb
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But as the days dragged on, headlines about power outages and water shortages took a back seat to a far more gruesome and horrific reality.
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Compounding concerns, California officials say the Department of Transportation is dragging its feet.
Cite this Entry
“Poke.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/poke. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
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