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
Julio Cesar Valdera Morales, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 July 2025
For most adults, drinking two to three cups of coffee a day is safe, but for people with severe high blood pressure, drinking this amount can double the risk of a heart attack or stroke.
—Md Published, Verywell Health, 19 July 2025
Steve Gorten, Miami Herald, 6 July 2025
In central Gaza, a boy stroked the face of his dead sister, 6-year-old Heba Abu Etiwi, in a morgue at Al Aqsa Martyrs’ Hospital.
—Melanie Lidman, Los Angeles Times, 3 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for stroke
Noun
Scottie Scheffler won the Open Championship with a score of 17-under, four strokes ahead of runner-up Harris English.
—Julio Cesar Valdera Morales, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 July 2025
For most adults, drinking two to three cups of coffee a day is safe, but for people with severe high blood pressure, drinking this amount can double the risk of a heart attack or stroke.
—Md Published, Verywell Health, 19 July 2025
Verb
Facing two strikes, Ramírez stroked a single off reliever Jared Koenig into left field, bringing home two runs.
—Steve Gorten, Miami Herald, 6 July 2025
In central Gaza, a boy stroked the face of his dead sister, 6-year-old Heba Abu Etiwi, in a morgue at Al Aqsa Martyrs’ Hospital.
—Melanie Lidman, Los Angeles Times, 3 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for stroke
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stroke
Noun
-
The title bout bore out as a chess match, as the ISL school traded blows with one of the top MIAA teams from the South Shore.—
Brendan Connelly,
Boston Herald,
19 July 2025
-
Smith shoved the gun in the guy’s gut, took the blow, then left.—
John J. Lennon,
Rolling Stone,
19 July 2025
Verb
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The Argentina captain caressed the ball and laid it softly on the Hard Rock Stadium grass.—
Felipe Cardenas,
New York Times,
15 June 2025
-
Groff sang his song as Reeves looked into the camera with wide eyes and at one point, reached down to caress Reeves’ chest and face.—
Alli Rosenbloom,
CNN Money,
8 June 2025
Verb
-
By the late Nineties, flimsy strictures of economic decorum were being made even flimsier: massage the losses, underestimate the debts, off-load liabilities into subsidiaries, hide who owns them.—
Leigh Claire La Berge,
Harpers Magazine,
16 July 2025
-
Just massage this lightweight formula into the scalp to reinvigorate follicles, prevent damage, and retain moisture.—
Kiana Murden,
Vogue,
15 July 2025
Noun
-
The comment quickly stirred debate online—some viewed it as a swipe at Dr. Dre, while others interpreted it as Quik simply affirming his own stature as a production powerhouse whose contributions have long flown under the radar.—
Preezy Brown,
VIBE.com,
23 July 2025
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On Thursday, the White House cast Trump’s earlier criticisms as swipes at Democrats.—
Chad de Guzman,
Time,
18 July 2025
Verb
-
Slim promptly pockets and pats them for safekeeping.—
Jennifer Leigh Parker,
Forbes.com,
25 July 2025
-
Brinkley recounts that Billy made his way over to the piano and patted the bench.—
Richard Johnson,
New York Daily News,
20 July 2025
Verb
-
The first sign was bumps that quickly puffed up and took over her skin.—
Chloe Castleberry,
Flow Space,
23 July 2025
-
Alan Rickman, with his deep, mellow, softly puffing voice, is immensely sympathetic as that most patient of suitors, Colonel Brandon.—
Tom Gliatto,
People.com,
19 July 2025
Noun
-
Riley Greene and Spencer Torkelson give this team just enough thump to be dangerous.—
Tony Blengino,
Forbes.com,
23 July 2025
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The team pulled off a shocking blockbuster by landing franchise slugger Rafael Devers from the Boston Red Sox, immediately filling its need for some left-handed thump in the batting order.—
Peter Chawaga,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 June 2025
Verb
-
Instead, coaches are gently correcting or congratulating Ewers.—
Chris Perkins,
Sun Sentinel,
30 July 2025
-
Council President Joe LaCava congratulated McClurg on her retirement from a 38-year career in public education, the last 16 years spent in the Del Mar district, where all nine schools are geographically in the city of San Diego.—
Karen Billing,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
29 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Stroke.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stroke. Accessed 3 Aug. 2025.
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