as in leisurely
moving or proceeding at less than the normal, desirable, or required speed
the poking pace of the repair work has put everything way behind schedule
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in protruding
to extend outward beyond a usual point
saw his head poking through the window
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2
as in messing
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 lingering
to move or act slowly
just poked around all morning and didn't accomplish much
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4
as in dragging
to move slowly
they were just poking along home
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of poking
ABC News, 9 Nov. 2025
There are also dual Akrapvoic exhausts poking out the rear, framed by slim taillights.
—Abhimanyu Ghoshal, New Atlas, 7 Nov. 2025
Satire, for example — poking fun at politicians or someone in power when things get ridiculous — can help people see how silly a situation is.
—Big Think, 5 Nov. 2025
Sad and Beautiful World finds Mavis, 86, exploring, rediscovering, and poking holes at her lifetime of righteous optimism.
—Jonathan Bernstein, Rolling Stone, 4 Nov. 2025
At times, the whales even broke through the surface, poking their fins just above water.
—Rachel Raposas, PEOPLE, 4 Nov. 2025
The two actors answered my questions during a Zoom interview, poking fun at each other throughout.
—Anne Thompson, IndieWire, 3 Nov. 2025
Or use your finger, poking it about 2 inches into the soil.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 24 Oct. 2025
Matthew McConaughey is poking fun at himself.
—Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 24 Oct. 2025
Verb
Tonight, after poking the bear, this bear roared.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for poking
Adjective
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Fortunately, there's usually plenty of pleasant autumn days after the first frost to tackle the remaining fall gardening tasks at a more leisurely rate.—
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During November, coastal towns transform into quieter versions of themselves, offering a season for birdwatching, leisurely walks, or festivals with good music and food.—
Verb
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Avoid areas of ice with protruding debris like logs or brush.—
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Most often, she was seen with protruding, sculptural hair, abstract eye shadow, and vibrant lip colors, all in line with her aesthetic at the Mugler 1986 show.—
Verb
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The last two seasons have proven that the team starts off slow, which ends up messing their chances of making the playoffs.—
Verb
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Ultimately, however, the lingering impact of being dragged last summer is known only to the officer – who is said to be experienced, with more than 10 years of service as an ICE deportation officer, according to DHS.—
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The lingering fear of Jerry's wrath?—
Verb
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Kerra, the dog referenced in the video, had developed a grapefruit-sized mass on her breast tissue that was dragging on the ground and causing significant discomfort.—
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That takes nothing away, though, from the epic job Herbert did dragging the Chargers through the second half of the season.—
Adjective
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Hoover finished 319 yards on 34-of-50 passing, but his two turnovers were critical mistakes that led to TCU’s slow start in the first half.—
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When visiting the exhibit, plan on taking your time to make the most of it, or what the American Federation of Arts calls slow looking.—
Verb
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In May 2025, an individual was arrested at the Phelps Street home on drug possession, criminal trespass and interfering charges, according to the warrant affidavit.—
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In it, Roosevelt built on the Monroe Doctrine, which was formulated originally by President James Monroe to warn European powers away from interfering in the region.—
Verb
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Now, Letts has brought Coon back to Broadway with the Main Stem debut of his 1996 play Bug, a skin-crawling portrayal of people on the fringes.—
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Here, there's a skin-crawling effect to watching the story unfold onstage.—
Cite this Entry
“Poking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/poking. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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