Synonyms of stroke

stroke 1 of 2

noun

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

• blow
• swipe
• thump
• hit
• punch
• slap
• pound
• knock
• thud
• lick
• whack
• poke
• smack
• bang
• beat
• slam
• spank
• clip
• clap
• lash
• switch
• cuff
• bat
• chop
• hook
• stripe
• kick
• belt
• hack
• knee
• crack
• sock
• pounding
• swat
• slug
• clout
• bop
• dab
• buffet
• box
• welt
• fillip
• plump
• pelt
• smash
• stinger
• bust
• biff
• wham
• hand
• licking
• rap
• pick
• wallop
• thwack
• swing
• bash
• beating
• counterstroke
• haymaker
• larrup
• left
• whop
• douse
• right
• body blow
• hammering
• counter
• one-two
• sucker punch
• thrashing
• whip
• shiver
• whipping
• knockdown
• uppercut
• sidewinder
• counterblow
• battering
• knockout
• roundhouse
• drubbing
• rabbit punch
• counterpunch
• KO
• pummeling
• flogging
• bludgeoning
• pasting
• bastinado
• cudgeling
• right-hander
• cruncher
• clobbering
• walloping
• kayo
• lambasting

stroke

2 of 2

verb

ˈstrōk 

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

• caress
• pat
• pet
• love
• hug
• cradle
• fondle
• gentle
• neck
• cuddle
• spoon
• paw
• nuzzle
• snuggle
• massage
• nose
• baby
• feel up
• knead
• bill
• bounce
• nestle
• canoodle
• enfold
• dandle
• pamper
• embrace
• spoil
• indulge
• coddle
• mollycoddle

2

as in to massage

to praise too much

a politician with a special gift for stroking fat-cat donors

Synonyms & Similar Words

• massage
• puff
• congratulate
• honey
• applaud
• praise
• commend
• flatter
• butter up
• overpraise
• belaud
• coax
• soft-soap
• hero-worship
• adulate
• suck (up to)
• blarney
• fawn
• woo
• cajole
• kowtow
• wheedle
• compliment
• eulogize
• romance
• idolize
• blandish
• toady
• felicitate
• extol
• worship
• gush
• laud
• ingratiate
• sweet-talk
• slobber
• court
• endear
• slaver
• drool

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• put down
• decry
• disparage
• depreciate
• belittle
• bad-mouth

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of stroke

Noun

Despite its sulfuric stench, in a stroke of absolute luck, this meteorite crashed into the right house. — Chelsea Gohd, Space.com, 15 July 2026

The last time the Open Championship was contested at Royal Birkdale Golf Club was 2017, when Jordan Spieth won by three strokes over Matt Kuchar. — Dennis Esser, New York Times, 15 July 2026

Verb

The responder then bends down to gently stroke the bird before getting another idea. — Raven Brunner, PEOPLE, 2 June 2026

Mihyia Davis stroked the next pitch off Slimp’s glove in left for a double and Williams moved to third. — Tim Willert, Los Angeles Times, 1 June 2026

Phrases Containing stroke

• stroke (out)
• stroke of luck