Synonyms of poke

poke 1 of 3

noun (1)

1

as in jab

a quick thrust

please stop giving the cat pokes while it's trying to sleep

Synonyms & Similar Words

• jab
• punch
• dig
• stab
• push
• lunge
• nudge
• dab
• stick
• shove
• jerk
• jam
• jog

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

• blow
• slap
• swipe
• hit
• punch
• thump
• knock
• whack
• smack
• stroke
• thud
• lick
• pound
• spank
• bang
• slam
• beat
• hook
• clap
• clip
• kick
• chop
• switch
• swat
• lash
• smash
• crack
• hack
• bop
• pick
• bat
• bash
• sock
• pelt
• dab
• plump
• slug
• cuff
• belt
• box
• stripe
• thwack
• rap
• welt
• stinger
• douse
• licking
• buffet
• biff
• knee
• bust
• fillip
• haymaker
• clout
• whap
• wham
• wallop
• pounding
• swing
• hand
• beating
• whop
• left
• larrup
• counter
• right
• counterblow
• hammering
• body blow
• sucker punch
• shiver
• whip
• counterstroke
• roundhouse
• whipping
• counterpunch
• one-two
• uppercut
• rabbit punch
• thrashing
• KO
• pummeling
• knockdown
• battering
• knockout
• flogging
• cruncher
• pasting
• sidewinder
• cudgelling
• bludgeoning
• pummelling
• drubbing
• cudgeling
• clobbering
• bastinado
• lambasting
• walloping
• bastinade
• right-hander
• kayo

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

• insult
• offence
• sarcasm
• slap
• dart
• barb
• outrage
• diss
• dig
• attack
• indignity
• slight
• affront
• name
• offense
• epithet
• slur
• cut
• personality
• taunt
• dis
• brickbat
• gird
• jibe
• disgrace
• mock
• sneer
• criticism
• gibe
• put-down
• abuse
• jeer
• swipe
• shame
• invective
• quip
• disapproval
• vituperation
• knock
• torture
• catcall
• opprobrium
• dishonor
• slam
• torment

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• compliment
• praise
• commendation
• applause
• acclaim
• flattery
• accolade
• adulation

poke

2 of 3

noun (2)

ˈpōk 

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

• pouch
• bag
• sack
• backpack
• package
• wallet
• bundle
• purse
• packet
• pack
• duffel bag
• pocketbook
• traveling bag
• portmanteau
• satchel
• tote
• tote bag
• shopping bag
• rucksack
• knapsack
• haversack
• handbag
• parcel
• carryall
• garment bag
• kit bag
• work bag
• ditty bag
• flight bag
• barracks bag

poke

3 of 3

verb

1

as in to protrude

to extend outward beyond a usual point

saw his head poking through the window

Synonyms & Similar Words

• protrude
• bulge
• jut
• stand out
• swell
• bunch
• stick out
• balloon
• beetle
• pout
• project
• pouch
• start
• overhang
• billow
• belly
• pooch
• extend
• dome
• bag
• stretch
• inflate
• lengthen
• distend
• dilate
• expand
• blow up
• mushroom
• elongate
• snowball

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• shrink
• compress
• contract
• condense
• constrict

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• interfere
• mess
• snoop
• pry
• meddle
• intervene
• intrude
• obtrude
• nose
• butt in
• intermeddle
• interlope
• muck (about or around)
• invade
• intercede
• fool
• encroach
• tamper
• trespass
• interpose
• play
• infringe
• fiddle
• monkey
• chisel (in)
• barge (in)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• avoid
• ignore
• shun
• eschew
• disregard
• neglect
• overlook

3

as in to crawl

to move or act slowly

just poked around all morning and didn't accomplish much

Synonyms & Similar Words

• crawl
• linger
• drag
• delay
• creep
• stroll
• play
• diddle
• hang fire
• fall behind
• loiter
• shuffle
• mark time
• dawdle
• stall
• drop behind
• lag
• lallygag
• lollygag
• mope
• tarry
• lounge
• drag one's heels
• stagger
• dillydally
• take one's time
• idle
• drag one's feet
• shilly-shally
• saunter
• dally
• fiddle (around)
• trifle
• fool around
• amble
• loaf
• hang (around or out)
• loll
• putter (around)
• potter (around)
• mess around
• temporize
• monkey (around)
• ease
• decelerate
• inch
• slow (down or up)
• plod
• procrastinate
• lumber
• filibuster

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• tear
• fly
• rip
• run
• course
• rush
• hurry
• race
• scurry
• rocket
• scoot
• career
• speed
• hasten
• dash
• whirl
• bolt
• breeze
• whisk
• dart
• scramble
• barrel
• zip
• run
• hump
• hurtle
• hustle
• stampede
• jog
• trot
• whiz
• whizz
• gallop
• accelerate
• scud
• sprint
• quicken
• speed (up)
• hotfoot (it)
• bowl
• catch up
• overtake
• outrun
• outpace
• outstrip
• fast-forward

4

as in to drag

to move slowly

they were just poking along home

Synonyms & Similar Words

• drag
• crawl
• creep
• shuffle
• snail
• limp
• nose
• ooze
• inch
• slouch
• creak (along)
• plod
• trudge
• tramp
• shamble
• lumber

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• fly
• race
• speed
• float
• sail
• glide
• whizz
• tear
• zip
• whiz
• hurry

Examples of poke in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The sampling of Bailey’s work tells us that the jubilant formal talent on view, unlike other iterations of Funk, needs no business with pokes in the eye. —Patricia Failing, ARTnews.com, 29 July 2024

The aloha spirit is real, with residents eager to tell you about their favorite poke spot or shave ice shop. —Catherine Garcia, theweek, 23 July 2024

Try rubbing a topical anesthetic or applying a numbing spray on the injection site at least half an hour before your poke to numb your skin a bit, Dr. Thomas says. —Katie Camero, SELF, 8 July 2024

Democrats responded to the airport proposal in May with a two-page bill seeking to name the Miami Federal Correctional Institution for Trump, a snarky poke at his ongoing legal battles. —Dan Morrison, USA TODAY, 18 June 2024

Phrases Containing poke

• poke fun at