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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
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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
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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
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1
as in to protrude
to extend outward beyond a usual point saw his head poking through the window
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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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3
as in to linger
to move or act slowly just poked around all morning and didn't accomplish much
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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 poke
Tarot.com, Chicago Tribune, 5 Apr. 2026 Elevated bar snacks like lobster elote and mini poke tacos, along with wings and flatbreads. —Brittany Anas, Denver Post, 3 Apr. 2026
Lexi Carson, 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 See All Example Sentences for poke
Noun
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 Elevated bar snacks like lobster elote and mini poke tacos, along with wings and flatbreads. —Brittany Anas, Denver Post, 3 Apr. 2026
Verb
Earlier this month, Grenier poked fun at not being asked to return in a Starbucks ad. —Lexi Carson, 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 See All Example Sentences for poke
Recent Examples of Synonyms for poke
Verb
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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
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In one shared by the road commission, the rushing, foaming flow might be confused for a threatening river if not for the road guardrails protruding from the water.— Darcie Moran, Freep.com, 26 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Castle shoved Avdija back before referees and players from both teams interfered.— The Athletic NBA Staff, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2026
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When officers attempted to have Michael Barrientes Vela back away, his brothers interfered.— Gabriella Ybarra, San Antonio Express-News, 24 Apr. 2026
Verb
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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
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The two men dined at a table alone, lingering long after all other diners had dispersed.— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 Apr. 2026
Verb
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As the Iran war drags on, concerns over rising gas prices and other costs have ballooned, sending consumer sentiment plummeting.— Eleanor Mueller, semafor.com, 30 Apr. 2026
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But now, in a last-ditch attempt to save the whale, a team has loaded Timmy onto a specialized barge to essentially drag it to the North Sea.— K. R. Callaway, Scientific American, 30 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The Giants’ position really, really messed us up in trying to even negotiate with Oakland.— Ian Miller OutKick, FOXNews.com, 23 Apr. 2026
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So no need to mess with rebates or even TrumpRx.— Ed Silverman, STAT, 21 Apr. 2026
Verb
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However, during one segment of the performance, a snake reportedly bit the German tourist after crawling into his clothing.— Bonny Chu, FOXNews.com, 29 Apr. 2026
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Wages for hourly employees have crawled, while the paychecks of investors and executives have soared.— Annie Lowrey, The Atlantic, 28 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Win it, and suddenly the series tightens, the doubt creeps in and the path gets a lot more complicated for Orlando.— Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 Apr. 2026
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For another easy-to-care-for choice that relishes sunlight, look to creeping juniper and its beautifully hazy blue-green leaves.— Melissa Epifano, The Spruce, 28 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Determined to spy her way out of Gilead, Daisy uses the tea party as a chance to snoop around Commander MacKenzie’s study.— Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 15 Apr. 2026
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Anymore, which will allow subscribers to snoop at a deep level on just about anyone in the world; the war against the data eaters, the name suggests, is long since lost, and is none of your business, anyway.— Television Critic, Los Angeles Times, 12 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Poke.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.grautoblog.com/thesaurus/poke. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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