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
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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
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Recent Examples of stroke
Natalie Nixon, Flow Space, 21 May 2025
Monitoring the health of presidents has long been a difficult enterprise, back to the disabling stroke that Woodrow Wilson suffered in 1919; his wife became his gatekeeper.
—Susan Page, USA Today, 20 May 2025
Hannah Sacks, People.com, 30 Apr. 2025
Janine slips June a keycard and tells her to meet her there later, then scurries off to stroke stupid Bell’s stupid ego.
—Kimberly Roots, TVLine, 22 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for stroke
Noun
Like building your inventory of courage, each bold stroke into uncertain waters expands your capacity for greatness.
—Natalie Nixon, Flow Space, 21 May 2025
Monitoring the health of presidents has long been a difficult enterprise, back to the disabling stroke that Woodrow Wilson suffered in 1919; his wife became his gatekeeper.
—Susan Page, USA Today, 20 May 2025
Verb
The singer announced the news on his Instagram with a video of himself and his newborn daughter, holding his baby girl's hand and sweetly stroking her fingers.
—Hannah Sacks, People.com, 30 Apr. 2025
Janine slips June a keycard and tells her to meet her there later, then scurries off to stroke stupid Bell’s stupid ego.
—Kimberly Roots, TVLine, 22 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for stroke
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stroke
Noun
-
In the rear of an IndyCar vehicle is a safety device called an attenuator, designed to cushion the blow from a rear impact into the wall.—
Jeff Gluck,
New York Times,
22 May 2025
-
The lawyers claim the measure signed into law by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis this month has already dealt significant blows to campaigns to expand Medicaid and legalize recreational marijuana in the state.—
Kate Payne,
Sun Sentinel,
22 May 2025
Verb
-
The monologue touches Ellie, who caresses her girlfriend’s face.—
Kimberly Roots,
TVLine,
11 May 2025
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Song, not one to be ruled by trends, has found a way to tap into bouclé’s truest original intention: that of softly caressing, thanks to those looped fibers, whoever decides to perch on it.—
Stacia Datskovska,
Footwear News,
31 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
But can putting castor oil in the belly button and massaging the area help with digestive issues as well?—
Justin Laube,
EverydayHealth.com,
28 Apr. 2025
-
Spend 30 to 60 seconds rolling or massaging each region in and around the hips — glutes, outer thighs, inner thighs, quads (front, top of leg) and hamstrings (back, top of leg) — before stretching or mobility exercises.—
Dana Santas,
CNN Money,
25 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
With his latest swipe, Duffy is looking to undercut the reason for congestion pricing by arguing that the funds generated aren’t being used to keep riders safe.—
Brady Knox,
The Washington Examiner,
23 May 2025
-
Curry’s injured thumb was famously the target of borderline dirty swipes by the Rockets.—
Joseph Dycus,
Mercury News,
22 May 2025
Verb
-
Afterward, wash the cleanser off with lukewarm water and pat dry with a clean towel.4 Some people with sensitive skin find that cleansing with water in the morning is sufficient, and over-cleansing with products can irritate their skin.—
Sarah Bence,
Verywell Health,
15 May 2025
-
Using paper towels, pat your chicken dry (no need to rinse it first).—
Karla Walsh,
Better Homes & Gardens,
14 May 2025
Verb
-
Despite Wharton puffing his chest in a terrifying bid to control his new wife, however, Serena fights back.—
Jackie Strause,
HollywoodReporter,
16 May 2025
-
That constant gnawing and sucking and puffing and chomping are all tension generators and all bring the focus back to Husk’s facial hair, the accessory that conveys how resigned the character is to his own recklessness.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
8 May 2025
Noun
-
My heart thumps, in sync with the pitter-patter of feet on the ground.—
David Oliver,
USA Today,
24 Apr. 2025
-
Outlook Single Double Triple Homer Texas moved quickly to bring in Pederson after trading Nathaniel Lowe, sacrificing a lot of fielding value but maintaining similar left-handed thump for the lineup.—
Tim Britton,
The Athletic,
21 Feb. 2025
Verb
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By the end of the production, Benson gave the cast a standing ovation and became emotional, congratulating the crew through tears.—
Jessica Wang,
EW.com,
19 May 2025
-
The Redditor said that her mother-in-law started tearing up and her boss stood up to congratulate them.—
Sabrina Weiss,
People.com,
19 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Stroke.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stroke. Accessed 27 May. 2025.
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