poke vs harass
The same move, ranged damage without committing, but not at the same scale. Poke is a team plan, before an objective or under a tower; harass is one laner's work against their opponent, hit after hit.
poke
Poke, wearing down from range: dealing damage without risking the fight, so the enemy reaches the real engagement already hurt. "poke them before baron" is the standard call; a "poke comp" is a whole team built for it, and the word also names a champion's damage style.
open the page →harass
Harass, lane pressure: hitting your opponent at every opening, mostly when they go for a minion, without ever committing. "harass him when he goes for cs" is basic marksman advice. The word lives in the laning phase, one on one or two on two.
open the page →Why they get mixed up
Poke and harass overlap: harassing in lane is poking your opponent. The difference is the setting. You type "poke" when the team is grouped and aiming at a fight or an objective; you type "harass" when it is two players in a lane. "poke him" in lane is understood, "harass them" before baron sounds off: five players do not harass, they poke.