1
2
as in blows
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 insults
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
as in pouches
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 protrudes
to extend outward beyond a usual point
saw his head poking through the window
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in interferes
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 drags
to move or act slowly
just poked around all morning and didn't accomplish much
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of pokes
Brian Steinberg, Variety, 29 Jan. 2026
A lot of times, these hot-button issues that are pressed, those little pokes, are more nuanced than they’re portrayed.
—Jackie Strause, HollywoodReporter, 19 Jan. 2026
In the hands of the right provider, filler can enhance and even transform your face with just a few strategic pokes.
—Kara Nesvig, Allure, 11 Nov. 2025
There weren’t any needles, pokes, or prods involved, just a simple applicator patch that stuck to the side of my stomach to help the machine navigate where to output the energy.
—Essence, 24 Sep. 2025
The rooftop pool and open-late bars draw a youngish crowd—lots of millennials with stick-and-pokes—of couples and friends, and absolutely zero kids (though the property is dog- and cat- friendly).
—Emily Wilson, Bon Appetit Magazine, 19 Sep. 2025
The non-extinction of Zaglossus attenboroughi, in the Cyclops Mountains, first suspected in 2007 on evidence of nose pokes, was confirmed.
—Rafil Kroll-Zaidi, Harpers Magazine, 20 Aug. 2025
Dee-Ann Durbin, Fortune, 8 Feb. 2026
Cucurella lands on the rebound and pokes in.
—Mark Carey, New York Times, 5 Feb. 2026
Other companies have incorporated AI into their Super Bowl commercials to a lesser extent, according to the outlet, and AI companies will return as well — a commercial from Anthropic pokes fun at ChatGPT incorporating ads.
—Rachyl Jones, semafor.com, 4 Feb. 2026
Partnerships deserve thoughtfulness as romantic Venus pokes jolly Jupiter, activating your 7th House of Connections and your 12th House of Karma.
—Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 31 Jan. 2026
Is every head that pokes in to look at me actually Frank himself?
—Shane Kowalski, Harpers Magazine, 30 Dec. 2025
The Aries moon pokes holes in old insecurities about competence and productivity.
—Usa Today, USA Today, 28 Dec. 2025
At the end of the segment, Andrew Dismukes (playing Nick Lachey) pokes fun at the boy band by announcing an upcoming tour and essentially stating 98 Degrees could only book a venue in Cincinnati.
—Kaycee Sloan, Cincinnati Enquirer, 22 Dec. 2025
The neck of his daughter's guitar pokes out above chunks of concrete.
—Jane Arraf, NPR, 3 Nov. 2025
Noun
Pepsi has for decades taken pokes at rival Coke in an endless array of commercials, but this time, the youth-skewing cola company really means business.
—Brian Steinberg, Variety, 29 Jan. 2026
A lot of times, these hot-button issues that are pressed, those little pokes, are more nuanced than they’re portrayed.
—Jackie Strause, HollywoodReporter, 19 Jan. 2026
In the hands of the right provider, filler can enhance and even transform your face with just a few strategic pokes.
—Kara Nesvig, Allure, 11 Nov. 2025
There weren’t any needles, pokes, or prods involved, just a simple applicator patch that stuck to the side of my stomach to help the machine navigate where to output the energy.
—Essence, 24 Sep. 2025
The rooftop pool and open-late bars draw a youngish crowd—lots of millennials with stick-and-pokes—of couples and friends, and absolutely zero kids (though the property is dog- and cat- friendly).
—Emily Wilson, Bon Appetit Magazine, 19 Sep. 2025
The non-extinction of Zaglossus attenboroughi, in the Cyclops Mountains, first suspected in 2007 on evidence of nose pokes, was confirmed.
—Rafil Kroll-Zaidi, Harpers Magazine, 20 Aug. 2025
Verb
Amazon also strikes a nerve with an ad starring Chris Hemsworth that pokes fun of people’s fears of AI.
—Dee-Ann Durbin, Fortune, 8 Feb. 2026
Cucurella lands on the rebound and pokes in.
—Mark Carey, New York Times, 5 Feb. 2026
Other companies have incorporated AI into their Super Bowl commercials to a lesser extent, according to the outlet, and AI companies will return as well — a commercial from Anthropic pokes fun at ChatGPT incorporating ads.
—Rachyl Jones, semafor.com, 4 Feb. 2026
Partnerships deserve thoughtfulness as romantic Venus pokes jolly Jupiter, activating your 7th House of Connections and your 12th House of Karma.
—Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 31 Jan. 2026
Is every head that pokes in to look at me actually Frank himself?
—Shane Kowalski, Harpers Magazine, 30 Dec. 2025
The Aries moon pokes holes in old insecurities about competence and productivity.
—Usa Today, USA Today, 28 Dec. 2025
At the end of the segment, Andrew Dismukes (playing Nick Lachey) pokes fun at the boy band by announcing an upcoming tour and essentially stating 98 Degrees could only book a venue in Cincinnati.
—Kaycee Sloan, Cincinnati Enquirer, 22 Dec. 2025
The neck of his daughter's guitar pokes out above chunks of concrete.
—Jane Arraf, NPR, 3 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pokes
Verb
-
Baleen is a specialized type of bone that protrudes from the jaws like teeth and is used to filter small critters from the ocean water to feed.—
Irene Wright,
Miami Herald,
22 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
If Washington overtly interferes in European elections or takes the dramatic step of annexing Greenland, the postwar alliance framework, already strained, could fracture.—
Ian Bremmer,
Time,
6 Jan. 2026
-
This Ministry frequently interferes in employers’ decisions, instigates acts of discrimination by authorities and organizations, brings weight to bear on the organs of justice and even orchestrates propaganda campaigns in the media.—
Jonny Diamond,
Literary Hub,
10 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
And when the failure drags on long enough, extreme partisanship rushes in to fill it.—
Melissa Derosa,
New York Daily News,
11 Feb. 2026
-
But the process often drags on for years, with a slim success rate.—
Chris Lau,
CNN Money,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
As with aftermarket switchable sway bar systems, drivers can lock the sway bars in place for better handling and stability at speed and unlock them completely for maximum articulation during bumpy rock crawls.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
9 Feb. 2026
-
Ma crawls toward you and plants her palms on your cheeks.—
Molly Aitken,
New Yorker,
1 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), a brain aneurysm is a weakened area in an artery that bulges outward and fills with blood.—
Lucy Notarantonio,
MSNBC Newsweek,
27 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Each has a meltdown worthy of a telenovela, messes with the crime scene and hours later the police are called.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Jan. 2026
-
In Lost Lambs, the internet sabotages a family in much the same way that Napoleon messes things up for the Bezukhovs in Tolstoy’s War and Peace.—
Gideon Leek,
The Atlantic,
13 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
No screens, no distractions—only the kind of presence that lingers long after the vows are spoken.—
Nikita Khanna,
Vogue,
5 Feb. 2026
-
Measles also lingers in rooms longer than many other diseases, Weber added.—
Mary Ramsey,
Charlotte Observer,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Suspicion and shame drenched Hanceville like the fog that creeps down Main Street.—
Rob Picheta,
CNN Money,
7 Feb. 2026
-
Mintz agrees that intentional time matters, especially when guilt creeps in.—
Jennifer Jay Palumbo,
Forbes.com,
22 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pokes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pokes. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
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