as in blow
a hard strike with a part of the body or an instrument
all it took was one hard stroke to knock the ball out of the tree
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
1
as in to caress
to touch or handle in a tender or loving manner
the young mother gently stroked the sleeping child's brow and then leaned over and kissed him
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in to massage
to praise too much
a politician with a special gift for stroking fat-cat donors
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of stroke
Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 15 June 2026
Gina Kim and Yana Wilson teamed to win the Dow Championship on Sunday for their first LPGA Tour titles, closing with an 8-under 62 in best-ball play for a two-stroke victory over Hyo Joo Kim and Hye-Jin Choi.
—CBS News, 14 June 2026
Chiara Barzini, Vogue, 9 May 2026
Freddie Freeman stroked a two-out RBI single up the middle in the fifth inning to put the Dodgers ahead 3-0.
—CBS News, 3 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for stroke
Noun
Learn to identify the warning signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke.
—Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 15 June 2026
Gina Kim and Yana Wilson teamed to win the Dow Championship on Sunday for their first LPGA Tour titles, closing with an 8-under 62 in best-ball play for a two-stroke victory over Hyo Joo Kim and Hye-Jin Choi.
—CBS News, 14 June 2026
Verb
On that bed my mother would stroke my hair and hands.
—Chiara Barzini, Vogue, 9 May 2026
Freddie Freeman stroked a two-out RBI single up the middle in the fifth inning to put the Dodgers ahead 3-0.
—CBS News, 3 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for stroke
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stroke
Noun
-
The rookie took a deep breath, settled into his stance and watched as Houston’s pitcher, Enyel De Los Santos, attempted to deliver the final blow.—
Latif Love
June 14,
Kansas City Star,
14 June 2026
-
Star third baseman José Ramírez broke a bone in his left hand on a swing Saturday and will be sidelined for an indefinite period, a massive blow to the two-time defending AL Central champions.—
Tom Withers,
Chicago Tribune,
14 June 2026
Verb
-
Kate could be seen reaching over to caress the back of Louis’s short blonde hair, showing off her iconic sapphire and diamond engagement ring.—
Lara Walsh,
InStyle,
13 June 2026
-
And short hair always feels so good once the temperatures climb and the humidity sets in; keeping your neck free allows the cool breeze of a blasting air conditioner to caress your skin.—
Kara Nesvig,
Allure,
12 June 2026
Verb
-
Add chicken, seal bag, and massage to coat chicken.—
Emily Teel,
Better Homes & Gardens,
10 June 2026
-
Seal the bag, removing as much air as possible, and gently massage the chicken to evenly coat with the marinade.—
Lexi Harrison,
Midwest Living,
10 June 2026
Noun
-
However, the thorough profiles encourage you to resist the urge to mindlessly swipe.—
Jordan Minor,
PC Magazine,
12 June 2026
-
The secret is to work from the top down and dry the rubber blade after each swipe.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
12 June 2026
Verb
-
Benji separated from Zack, patted the spot on the bed between them, and then opened up his arm as an invitation.—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
18 June 2026
-
Next, apply a lipstick or lip stain with a matte finish—ideally patted on with your fingers—to finish it off.—
Margaux Anbouba,
Vogue,
17 June 2026
Verb
-
In contrast, eating refined grains like white bread, puffed rice, or white rice might increase inflammation and make your joints hurt more.—
Lana Barhum,
Verywell Health,
12 June 2026
-
The ring of pastry was crisp and impressively puffed, like a peacock’s display of courtship.—
The Bon Appétit,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
10 June 2026
Noun
-
While playing Pragmata, the thump of approaching robots had solid directionality, and the weapon blasts had a good amount of low-end force.—
Will Greenwald,
PC Magazine,
14 June 2026
-
The driver’s side opens, releasing the thump of music and a tall, lean figure.—
Shyla Watson,
PEOPLE,
5 June 2026
Verb
-
The video has racked up over 115,000 likes and thousands of comments, with many congratulating the mom-to-be.—
Gina Kalsi,
PEOPLE,
15 June 2026
-
I'mPhaedra Trethan, digging out my old Rod Brind'Amour Flyers jersey and congratulating the coach on his team's Stanley Cup Finals win.—
Phaedra Trethan,
USA Today,
15 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Stroke.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stroke. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.
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