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
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Recent Examples of stroke
Sandee Lamotte, CNN Money, 14 Apr. 2025
His turnaround on the greens from Saturday to Sunday was immense — a difference of more than six shots in the strokes gained putting metric.
7.
—Justin Ray, New York Times, 14 Apr. 2025
Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Mar. 2025
An inning earlier, Contreras stroked an RBI double to left for his first hit of the season to score Masyn Winn, and Lars Nootbaar scored on shortstop Nicky Lopez’s errant throw to tie the game at 5-all.
—Iliana Limón Romero, Los Angeles Times, 3 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for stroke
Noun
Not getting a quality night’s rest of at least seven to eight hours has been linked to the development or worsening of diabetes, depression, heart and kidney disease, high blood pressure, obesity and stroke, experts say.
—Sandee Lamotte, CNN Money, 14 Apr. 2025
His turnaround on the greens from Saturday to Sunday was immense — a difference of more than six shots in the strokes gained putting metric.
7.
—Justin Ray, New York Times, 14 Apr. 2025
Verb
Looking very Zen and somewhat Gwynn, the slugger stroked three singles in going to right field, center field and left field.
—Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Mar. 2025
An inning earlier, Contreras stroked an RBI double to left for his first hit of the season to score Masyn Winn, and Lars Nootbaar scored on shortstop Nicky Lopez’s errant throw to tie the game at 5-all.
—Iliana Limón Romero, Los Angeles Times, 3 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for stroke
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stroke
Noun
-
With a blow of his whistle, all sorts of words applied: pandemonium, euphoria, mania.—
Simon Hughes,
New York Times,
28 Apr. 2025
-
What’s 42 to 43? Into a black place of great blows from the little mountains from the sea came.—
John Berryman,
New Yorker,
28 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Being tenderly caressed physically searched by a Transportation Security Administration agent.—
James Factora,
Them.,
11 Apr. 2025
-
With her usual mastery of dynamics, Laferte starts out sweetly caressing each phrase.—
Jon Pareles,
New York Times,
28 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Gently massage the oil mixture into the scalp using your fingertips.—
Carley Millhone,
Health,
23 Apr. 2025
-
Hair oils, such as jojoba, argan, and coconut, may be massaged into your hair once a week.—
Heather Jones,
Verywell Health,
22 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Hold: Strong Shades: 8 Pros: Vegan and cruelty free, easy to use, buildable Cons: Takes a couple swipes to get more pigment out of it Your brow gel questions, answered Is clear or tinted brow gel better?—
Danielle Sinay,
Glamour,
17 Apr. 2025
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As President Donald Trump takes fast-changing swipes at U.S. trade relationships around the world, California Gov. Gavin Newsom is challenging the president’s authority and taking steps to curb economic blowback.—
Ali Martin,
Christian Science Monitor,
17 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
After being mobbed by his team-mates, Van Dijk patted the badge on his shirt in front of the Kop and then planted a kiss on it, to rapturous acclaim.—
James Pearce,
New York Times,
14 Apr. 2025
-
Cue chill Schmidt, patting away on his handheld drum without a care in the world.—
Isabella Milano,
Better Homes & Gardens,
12 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Or that the same suspect calmly tried to walk away from a crash, puffing on a cigarette, despite being surrounded by deputies.—
Mark Price,
Miami Herald,
22 Apr. 2025
-
Now, watching the group pare back its aims and puff up its progress, some of its allies have grown doubtful about both.—
David A. Fahrenthold,
New York Times,
13 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Rami Sinno is crouched beside a filing cabinet, wrestling a beach-ball sized disc out of a box, when a dull thump echoes around his laboratory.—
Billy Perrigo,
Time,
2 Apr. 2025
-
Then the silence was broken by the loud thump of Olive’s .38/40.—
Horace R. Hinkley,
Outdoor Life,
19 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
That ethical dodge — congratulating modern progress, ignoring this era’s nervous breakdown — is the basic, political, insensitive reason that contemporary Hollywood cannot create love stories.—
Armond White,
National Review,
25 Apr. 2025
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Celebrities and fellow golfers congratulated him after his big win.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Stroke.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stroke. Accessed 1 May. 2025.
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