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
Maggie Horton, PEOPLE, 11 May 2026
Then in the second, Mattias Samuelsson was allowed to take multiple pokes at Jeremy Swayman before Geekie clobbered him.
—Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 24 Apr. 2026
Privacy may struggle within a buzzing neighborhood as the Sun in your contemplative 12th house pokes indulgent Jupiter in your 3rd House of Messages.
—Tarot.com, Chicago Tribune, 5 Apr. 2026
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
Chris Feil, Vulture, 1 May 2026
Instead, the robot simply pokes through it.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 30 Apr. 2026
My daughter, Brigid, the oldest of the girls, pokes her head out of the kitchen.
—Danielle Parker, CBS News, 30 Apr. 2026
The promo pokes fun at their sandwich-selling rival, Jersey Mike's.
—Christopher Edwards, PEOPLE, 29 Apr. 2026
The script lightly pokes fun at the lofty ambitions of theater-makers who aim to change lives through their art, while ultimately affirming the power of theater to lift people’s spirits.
—Emily McClanathan, Chicago Tribune, 17 Apr. 2026
Your 6th House of Health takes focus with the nurturing Moon there, though Luna also pokes expensive Jupiter in your 3rd House of Distractions.
—Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 2 Apr. 2026
In April, ruby-red paintbrush pokes out of the ground, and in late summer, vibrant yellow rabbitbrush flowers join the mix.
—Madison Chapman, Outside, 25 Mar. 2026
Leah pokes her head out around his legs, her eyes wild with excitement.
—Literary Hub, 23 Mar. 2026
Noun
No matter how comfortable your pants, shirt, or shoes are, a bra that digs or pokes can transform any outfit into an overstimulating disaster.
—Maggie Horton, PEOPLE, 11 May 2026
Then in the second, Mattias Samuelsson was allowed to take multiple pokes at Jeremy Swayman before Geekie clobbered him.
—Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 24 Apr. 2026
Privacy may struggle within a buzzing neighborhood as the Sun in your contemplative 12th house pokes indulgent Jupiter in your 3rd House of Messages.
—Tarot.com, Chicago Tribune, 5 Apr. 2026
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
Verb
Kym is the family fuckup and a guilty party to its biggest tragedy but also constantly pokes the bear as its selfish verbal assassin.
—Chris Feil, Vulture, 1 May 2026
Instead, the robot simply pokes through it.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 30 Apr. 2026
My daughter, Brigid, the oldest of the girls, pokes her head out of the kitchen.
—Danielle Parker, CBS News, 30 Apr. 2026
The promo pokes fun at their sandwich-selling rival, Jersey Mike's.
—Christopher Edwards, PEOPLE, 29 Apr. 2026
The script lightly pokes fun at the lofty ambitions of theater-makers who aim to change lives through their art, while ultimately affirming the power of theater to lift people’s spirits.
—Emily McClanathan, Chicago Tribune, 17 Apr. 2026
Your 6th House of Health takes focus with the nurturing Moon there, though Luna also pokes expensive Jupiter in your 3rd House of Distractions.
—Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 2 Apr. 2026
In April, ruby-red paintbrush pokes out of the ground, and in late summer, vibrant yellow rabbitbrush flowers join the mix.
—Madison Chapman, Outside, 25 Mar. 2026
Leah pokes her head out around his legs, her eyes wild with excitement.
—Literary Hub, 23 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pokes
Noun
-
The candidates themselves seemed low-energy, even with their jabs — which were largely directed at Becerra, as Mark said.—
Gustavo Arellano,
Los Angeles Times,
15 May 2026
-
During a debate on April 28 hosted by CBS, candidates discussed everything from health care to the Golden State’s home insurance crisis and consistently took jabs at one another.—
James Ward,
USA Today,
15 May 2026
Noun
-
While the killing dealt one of the biggest blows to ISIS’s global network in years, disrupting operations in northeastern Nigeria, the terror group's top leader, Abu Hafs al-Hashimi al-Qurashi, remains at large as Africa becomes the movement's global epicenter.—
Emma Bussey,
FOXNews.com,
17 May 2026
-
Annah’s resulting anguish is so uncomfortable for the others, that Ibrahim and Jacques practically come to blows.—
Alissa Simon,
Variety,
16 May 2026
Noun
-
But between rapid-fire questions and candidates hurling insults or talking over one another, the chaotic nature of some debate moments did little to help undecided voters make up their minds about their preferred candidate, some political observers said.—
Linh Tat,
Daily News,
14 May 2026
-
Sometimes, there’s no better way to pay tribute to a dear friend than by lambasting them with insults.—
Jason P. Frank,
Vulture,
13 May 2026
Noun
-
While lozenges are designed to taste unpleasant, nicotine pouches are often flavored with mint, coffee, cinnamon, or fruit.—
Fran Kritz,
Verywell Health,
12 May 2026
-
Each attendee at the show received a small piece of a painting in the lockable pouches phones were kept in; some fans have speculated that together, the fragments reveal Bridgers’ next album cover.—
Hattie Lindert,
Pitchfork,
10 May 2026
Verb
-
These are more likely to cause painless rectal bleeding or tissue that protrudes during a bowel movement.—
Tom Gavin,
EverydayHealth.com,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Part of it protrudes from the exterior, with natural airflow helping keep the food inside chilled.—
Adam Williams
March 29,
New Atlas,
29 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
This act interferes greatly with local departments of planning and development for erroneous climate protocols enacted by Ronald Regan.—
Kaitlyn Schallhorn,
Oc Register,
4 May 2026
-
This is where Earth’s atmosphere interferes least.—
Jamie Carter,
Space.com,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Analysts have repeatedly warned that if the war drags on and supply chains are disrupted for long enough, prices for gas and a range of other goods could continue to climb.—
Wyatte Grantham-Philips,
Chicago Tribune,
14 May 2026
-
Our older cat has no interest in them whatsoever, but our newest baby, Pip, drags his all around the house.—
Jeaneen Russell,
PEOPLE,
13 May 2026
Verb
-
Leclerc crawls through the long right-hand Turn 12, where Lindblad moves ahead again.—
Alex Kalinauckas,
New York Times,
11 May 2026
-
Think about how often your toddler crawls near the dog bed or your kids toss pet toys around the living room.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
9 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pokes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pokes. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
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