Poke vs. Stab — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Urooj Arif — Updated on May 13, 2024
Poke refers to a light or gentle touch, while stab implies a forceful thrust with a sharp object, often causing injury.
Difference Between Poke and Stab
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Poke involves a light or gentle touch, usually with a finger or an object. It is often playful or intended to get someone's attention. For example, you might poke someone to draw their attention without causing harm. Stab, on the other hand, involves a forceful thrust with a sharp object, like a knife. This action is more aggressive and can cause significant injury or damage.
Poking is often used in casual or non-threatening contexts, such as in social media interactions where you can "poke" a friend. Stabbing is associated with violence or self-defense and is a serious action with potentially severe consequences.
The word "poke" can be used metaphorically to indicate probing or lightly investigating something. In contrast, "stab" can be used metaphorically to describe an attempt, usually when trying something with significant effort or risk, as in "taking a stab at a problem."
In terms of physical action, poking is typically done with a single finger or a blunt object, applying minimal pressure. Stabbing requires a sharp object and considerable force, intended to penetrate or pierce a surface or material.
Poke generally implies a benign, harmless action, while stab implies danger and intent to cause harm. For instance, you might poke a piece of paper with a pen, but you would stab a piece of meat with a fork.
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Poke can be seen in playful contexts, like children poking each other during a game. Stab, however, is seen in serious or dangerous situations, like self-defense scenarios or criminal acts.
Comparison Chart
Nature
Light, gentle touch
Forceful thrust
Context
Casual, playful, or attention-seeking
Aggressive, violent, or self-defense
Action
Minimal pressure with a finger or blunt object
Significant force with a sharp object
Metaphorical Use
Light investigation or probing
Attempt with effort or risk
Implication
Benign, harmless
Dangerous, harmful
Compare with Definitions
Poke
To prod or jab lightly.
The cat poked its paw through the curtain.
Stab
To make a sudden, sharp, and forceful movement.
He stabbed his finger at the map.
Poke
To stir or prod an object, often to move or examine it.
He poked the fire with a stick.
Stab
To attempt something, often with effort or risk.
She took a stab at solving the complex puzzle.
Poke
To make a hole or mark by pushing something through.
She poked holes in the paper with a pen.
Stab
To pierce or wound with or as if with a pointed weapon.
Poke
Jab or prod (someone or something) with one's finger or a sharp object
He poked Benny in the ribs and pointed
They sniffed, felt, and poked at everything they bought
Stab
To plunge (a pointed weapon or instrument) into something.
Poke
Thrust (something, such as one's head) in a particular direction
I poked my head around the door to see what was going on
Stab
To make a thrusting or poking motion at or into
Stabbed the air with his fingers.
Poke
An act of poking someone or something
She gave the fire a poke
Stab
To thrust with or as if with a pointed weapon
Stabbed at the food with her fork.
Poke
A look or search around a place
His mother comes into his room sometimes and has a poke round
Stab
To inflict a wound with or as if with a pointed weapon.
Poke
Power or acceleration in a car
I expect you'd prefer something with a bit more poke
Stab
A thrust with a pointed weapon or instrument.
Poke
A woman's bonnet with a projecting brim or front, popular especially in the early 19th century.
Stab
A wound inflicted with or as if with a pointed weapon.
Poke
A bag or small sack
He fished out a poke of crisps from under the counter
Stab
A sudden piercing pain.
Poke
Another term for pokeweed
Stab
An attempt; a try
Made a stab at the answer.
Poke
A North American plant of the lily family with a poisonous black rhizome and tall sprays of yellow-green flowers.
Stab
An act of stabbing or thrusting with an object.
Poke
A Hawaiian dish of marinated raw fish or seafood, often served over rice
A buffet full of Hawaiian favourites like fresh poke
A wide range of poke bowls
Stab
A wound made by stabbing.
Poke
To push or jab at, as with a finger or an arm; prod.
Stab
Pain inflicted on a person's feelings.
Poke
To make (a hole or pathway, for example) by or as if by prodding, elbowing, or jabbing
I poked my way to the front of the crowd.
Stab
(informal) An attempt.
I'll give this thankless task a stab.
Poke
To push; thrust
A seal poked its head out of the water.
Stab
Criticism.
Poke
To stir (a fire) by prodding the wood or coal with a poker or stick.
Stab
(music) A single staccato chord that adds dramatic impact to a composition.
A horn stab
Poke
(Slang) To strike; punch.
Stab
A bacterial culture made by inoculating a solid medium, such as gelatin, with the puncture of a needle or wire.
Poke
To make thrusts or jabs, as with a stick or poker.
Stab
The horizontal or vertical stabilizer of an aircraft.
Poke
To pry or meddle; intrude
Poking into another's business.
Stab
(industrial relations) establishment
Poke
To search or look curiously in a desultory manner
Poked about in the desk.
Stab
(transitive) To pierce or to wound (somebody) with a (usually pointed) tool or weapon, especially a knife or dagger.
If you stab him in the heart he won't live long enough to retaliate.
Poke
To proceed in a slow or lazy manner; putter
Just poked along all morning.
Stab
(transitive) To thrust in a stabbing motion.
To stab a dagger into a person
Poke
To thrust forward; appear
The child's head poked from under the blankets.
Stab
(intransitive) To recklessly hit with the tip of a (usually pointed) object, such as a weapon or finger (often used with at).
He stabbed at my face with the twig but luckily kept missing my eyes.
Poke
A push, thrust, or jab.
Stab
(intransitive) To cause a sharp, painful sensation (often used with at).
The snow from the blizzard was stabbing at my face as I skied down the mountain.
Poke
(Slang) A punch or blow with the fist
A poke in the jaw.
Stab
To injure secretly or by malicious falsehood or slander.
To stab a person's reputation
Poke
One who moves slowly or aimlessly; a dawdler.
Stab
(transitive) To roughen a brick wall with a pick so as to hold plaster.
Poke
A projecting brim at the front of a bonnet.
Stab
(transitive) To pierce folded sheets, near their back edges, for the passage of thread or wire.
Poke
A large bonnet having a projecting brim.
Stab
To pierce with a pointed weapon; to wound or kill by the thrust of a pointed instrument; as, to stab a man with a dagger; also, to thrust; as, to stab a dagger into a person.
Poke
A sack; a bag.
Stab
Fig.: To injure secretly or by malicious falsehood or slander; as, to stab a person's reputation.
Poke
Pokeweed.
Stab
To give a wound with a pointed weapon; to pierce; to thrust with a pointed weapon.
None shall dareWith shortened sword to stab in closer war.
Poke
A Hawaiian salad or appetizer traditionally consisting of cubed raw fish, often yellowfin tuna, that is marinated in soy sauce and sesame oil, and mixed with diced onions, sesame seeds, and ginger.
Stab
To wound or pain, as if with a pointed weapon.
She speaks poniards, and every word stabs.
Poke
To prod or jab with an object such as a finger or a stick.
Stab
The thrust of a pointed weapon.
Poke
To stir up a fire to remove ash or promote burning.
Stab
A wound with a sharp-pointed weapon; as, to fall by the stab of an assassin.
Poke
(figuratively) To rummage; to feel or grope around.
I poked about in the rubble, trying to find my lost keys.
Stab
Fig.: An injury inflicted covertly or suddenly; as, a stab given to character.
Poke
To modify the value stored in (a memory address).
Stab
A sudden sharp feeling;
Pangs of regret
She felt a stab of excitement
Twinges of conscience
Poke
(transitive) To put a poke device to prevent leaping or breaking fences on (an animal).
To poke an ox
Stab
A thrusting blow with a knife or other sharp pointed instrument;
One strong stab to the heart killed him
Poke
(transitive) To thrust at with the horns; to gore.
Stab
Informal words for any attempt or effort;
He gave it his best shot
He took a stab at forecasting
Poke
To notify (another user) of activity on social media or an instant messenger.
Stab
Use a knife on;
The victim was knifed to death
Poke
(transitive) To thrust (something) in a particular direction such as the tongue.
Stab
Stab or pierce;
He jabbed the piece of meat with his pocket knife
Poke
To penetrate in sexual intercourse.
Stab
Poke or thrust abruptly;
He jabbed his finger into her ribs
Poke
A prod, jab, or thrust.
Stab
To thrust a sharp object into something or someone.
He stabbed the meat with a fork.
Poke
A lazy person; a dawdler.
Stab
To cause harm with a pointed weapon.
The attacker stabbed him in the arm.
Poke
A stupid or uninteresting person.
Stab
To pierce or wound with a sharp object.
She stabbed the balloon with a pin.
Poke
An old, worn-out horse.
Poke
(US) A device to prevent an animal from leaping or breaking through fences, consisting of a yoke with a pole inserted, pointed forward.
Poke
The storage of a value in a memory address, typically to modify the behaviour of a program or to cheat at a video game.
Poke
A notification sent to get another user's attention on social media or an instant messenger.
Poke
A poke bonnet.
Poke
A hit, especially an extra base hit.
Poke
A sack or bag.
Poke
A long, wide sleeve.
Poke sleeve
Poke
An ice cream cone.
Poke
(dialectal) Pokeweed.
Poke
(Hawaii) Slices or cubes of raw fish or other raw seafood, mixed with sesame oil, seaweed, sea salt, herbs, spices, or other flavorful ingredients.
Poke
A large North American herb of the genus Phytolacca (Phytolacca decandra), bearing dark purple juicy berries; - called also garget, pigeon berry, pocan, and pokeweed. The root and berries have emetic and purgative properties, and are used in medicine. The young shoots are sometimes eaten as a substitute for asparagus, and the berries are said to be used in Europe to color wine.
Poke
A bag; a sack; a pocket.
They wallowed as pigs in a poke.
Poke
A long, wide sleeve; - called also poke sleeve.
Poke
The act of poking; a thrust; a jog; as, a poke in the ribs.
Poke
A lazy person; a dawdler; also, a stupid or uninteresting person.
Poke
A contrivance to prevent an animal from leaping or breaking through fences. It consists of a yoke with a pole inserted, pointed forward.
Poke
To thrust or push against or into with anything pointed; hence, to stir up; to excite; as, to poke a fire.
He poked John, and said "Sleepest thou ?"
Poke
To thrust with the horns; to gore.
Poke
To put a poke on; as, to poke an ox.
Poke
To search; to feel one's way, as in the dark; to grope; as, to poke about.
A man must have poked into Latin and Greek.
Poke
Tall coarse perennial American herb having small white flowers followed by blackish-red berries on long drooping racemes; young fleshy stems are edible; berries and root are poisonous
Poke
A bag made of paper or plastic for holding customer's purchases
Poke
A sharp hand gesture (resembling a blow);
He warned me with a jab with his finger
He made a thrusting motion with his fist
Poke
(boxing) a blow with the fist;
I gave him a clout on his nose
Poke
Poke or thrust abruptly;
He jabbed his finger into her ribs
Poke
Search or inquire in a meddlesome way;
This guy is always nosing around the office
Poke
Stir by poking;
Poke the embers in the fireplace
Poke
Hit hard with the hand, fist, or some heavy instrument;
The salesman pounded the door knocker
A bible-thumping Southern Baptist
Poke
Make a hole by poking
Poke
To touch lightly with a finger or object.
She poked him to get his attention.
Poke
To interfere or meddle.
Don’t poke your nose into my business.
Common Curiosities
Is poking considered aggressive?
Poking is typically not aggressive; it is often done playfully or to draw attention.
Is poking used in digital communication?
Yes, on some social media platforms, you can "poke" friends to interact lightly.
What is a stab?
A stab is a forceful thrust with a sharp object, often causing injury.
Can stab be used metaphorically?
Yes, "stab" can describe an attempt to do something, often with significant effort.
Are there non-violent contexts for the word stab?
Yes, "stab" can be used in non-violent contexts, such as attempting a task.
What are the physical actions involved in poking?
Poking involves a light touch or jab with minimal pressure.
What does it mean to poke someone?
Poking someone usually means touching them lightly with a finger or object to get their attention.
Can you poke objects as well as people?
Yes, you can poke objects, such as poking a stick into the ground.
How is a stabbing action performed?
Stabbing involves thrusting a sharp object with significant force.
Does poking always involve physical contact?
Poking typically involves physical contact, but can also be used metaphorically.
What are the implications of a stab?
Stabbing implies danger, harm, or a serious attempt.
Is a stab always intended to cause harm?
Stabbing is often intended to cause harm, but not always, as in the case of a culinary context.
Can poke be harmful?
Poking is usually harmless and done playfully or lightly.
What is an example of poking in a sentence?
e.g., She poked her friend to wake him up.
What is an example of stabbing in a sentence?
e.g., He stabbed the box with a knife to open it.
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Written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
