POKED FUN AT Synonyms: 70 Similar and Opposite Words

poked fun at

phrase

past tense of poke fun at

as in ridiculed

to make (someone or something) the object of unkind laughter Poking fun at the corny romantic comedies they watch is a favorite pleasure of theirs.

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 poked fun at The event, known for its blend of philanthropy, politics and humor, also featured comedian Jim Gaffigan, who poked fun at the influential crowd gathered in the ballroom. — Dick Brennan, CBS News, 16 Oct. 2026 Another comic, Bill Scheft, says the people who poked fun at Seinfeld still respected his craftsmanship (and were probably a little jealous of his success). — Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 15 Oct. 2026 Popular comedian Antonis Kanakis poked fun at the 57-year-old’s flamboyant outfits in a skit posted online, donning a black wig and shimmering silver dress with a pink feather boa. — ABC News, 14 Oct. 2026 After all, Oliver has poked fun at the Ellisons on the program in the past. — Marlow Stern, Variety, 5 Oct. 2026 Earlier in the show, the singer popped up during Johnson’s opening monologue, during which the actress poked fun at her history of dating musicians. — Alicia Urrea, Billboard, 5 Oct. 2026 This isn’t the first time Murphy has poked fun at Swift and her army of fans in one of his shows. — Isabella Albaig, Vulture, 25 Sep. 2026 The move poked fun at Trump signing an executive order ordering his administration to change the name of Lake Ontario to Lake America. — Melina Khan, USA Today, 16 Sep. 2026 Since the series premiere, the show has poked fun at everything, from all sides of the political spectrum to celebrities to current events, and everything in between. — Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 16 Sep. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

poked (around)

poked fun at

poke fun at

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Poked fun at.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/poked%20fun%20at. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of poked fun at

phrase

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

jilt

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Can' vs. 'May'

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Did 'orange' the fruit or the color come first?

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes