POKING Synonyms: 219 Similar and Opposite Words

poking 1 of 2

adjective

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

poking

2 of 2

verb

present participle of poke

as in protruding

to extend outward beyond a usual point saw his head poking through the window

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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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as in lingering

to move or act slowly just poked around all morning and didn't accomplish much

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as in dragging

to move slowly they were just poking along home

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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 poking

Verb

My physical study, on the floor, poking at what was there in the open field of the air, led to newfound levels of learning to process, in poems on the page, where my initial feelings of hunger came from. — Literary Hub, 15 Oct. 2026 In a recent interview with OutKick Dropkick, Hefner was already poking the bear in hopes of getting eyes on his event. — Ryan Gaydos Outkick, FOXNews.com, 15 Oct. 2026 Ellis was pulled after Sam Reinhart tied the game at 2 by poking in a loose puck that dribbled into the crease behind the goalie. — CBS News, 13 Oct. 2026 The persona non grata formerly known as Prince Andrew is suddenly feeling emboldened, poking his head over the parapet of Marsh Farm, a relatively modest five-bedroom farmhouse on the King’s Sandringham Estate, in Norfolk. — Ashley Baker, Air Mail, 10 Oct. 2026 Video posted to social media showed one car nearly submerged, with just its sunroof poking above the water, as people moved other vehicles farther from the rising tides. — Leah Willingham, Los Angeles Times, 26 Sep. 2026 One of the most iconic fall looks is a pair of tall boots with a knit sock poking over the top. — Mia Huelsbeck, PEOPLE, 18 Sep. 2026 And in those text messages, the fiancé, Richard Falor, appears to be poking holes in her story in the days following Park's disappearance. — Andrea May Sahouri, Freep.com, 18 Sep. 2026 Even Watford’s mascot got involved, standing behind one of the goalposts ahead of the game and poking its head out with a binocular gesture. — ABC News, 17 Sep. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for poking

Adjective

But in order to make the most of the experiment, scientists ensured a second spacecraft would follow DART at a more leisurely pace.

— Meghan Bartels, Space.com, 14 Oct. 2026
If a leisurely day by the pool is on the agenda, order chips and guac or sip a Valley Margarita from the comfort of your chaise lounge.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of leisurely

Verb

The 10-month-old boy had a deep puncture wound in his upper chest area, while the 3-year-old girl had an inner organ protruding out of a chest-area wound.

— Matthew Ablon, CBS News, 6 Oct. 2026
When a switch is at rest, a protruding piece of the plastic stem keeps the switch’s two leaves from making contact.

— ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 5 Oct. 2026

Definition of protruding

Verb

Abruptly moving on, like a magician preventing his audience from lingering on his last trick, Alex pulled out a tablet, holding it up to me.

— Andrew Lipstein, New Yorker, 17 Oct. 2026
Also on the ground floor is Maven, serving strong espresso and nitro cold brew—plus coffee cocktails worth lingering for.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of lingering

Verb

He’s also been known to engage with those who might not be fans of his comedic stylings, publicly arguing back and forth with civilians, dragging them on his social media for his fans to see.

— Chris Murphy, Vanity Fair, 14 Oct. 2026
Beaches typically go through a seasonal cycle with powerful winter waves dragging sand out to sea and more mild summer waves depositing the sand back onshore.

— Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of dragging

Adjective

On winding roads, its model-specific suspension tuning and focus on weight reduction translate into exceptional body control at speed without becoming brittle or overly rigid in slower, more technical sections.

— Bradley Iger, Robb Report, 16 Oct. 2026
In particular, he was asked about Netflix’s slower growth (2% year-over-year growth in user engagement during the first half in 2026).

— Matt Donnelly, Variety, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of slow

Verb

Its inclusion in the documentary has provided ammunition for Musk supporters and his lawyers to discredit the film, pointing to an unfounded conspiracy theory about SpaceX’s Starlink satellites interfering in the election.

— ABC News, ABC News, 12 Oct. 2026
The automakers also object to the government interfering in parts of the design that don’t improve the safety of the vehicle, saying a radio is different from seat belts and airbags.

— Chris Isidore, CNN Money, 11 Oct. 2026

Definition of interfering

Verb

At the hospital, an insect fell from the girl’s shoe, and a staffer saw a cockroach crawling on her, the district attorney’s office said.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2026
Of course, an extra three-quarters of an inch clearance and some elastic straps do not transform a unibody, front-biased crossover into an invincible rock-crawling monster.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 9 Oct. 2026