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

Last week in Shanghai, Choi was runner-up by one stroke to China’s Ruoning Yin after the South Korean golfer led after each of the first three rounds. — ABC News, 25 Oct. 2026

Maslansky was married to Michael Maslansky — a founding partner (with Pat Kingsley and Neil Koenigsberg) of what would become PMK Public Relations — from 1975 until his death in 1993 of stroke complications at age 55. — Mike Barnes, HollywoodReporter, 23 Oct. 2026

Verb

Rookie Ethan Salas stroked an RBI single in the bottom of the 10th inning Saturday night as the San Diego Padres edged the visiting Miami Marlins 7-6. — Miami Herald, 20 Sep. 2026

But Kim stroked a walk-off single into left field in the ninth inning off Dodgers reliever Tanner Scott to give the Atlanta Braves a 6-5 victory over the Dodgers on Wednesday night. — Bill Plunkett, Oc Register, 27 Aug. 2026

Phrases Containing stroke

• stroke (out)
• stroke of luck