STRIKES Synonyms: 471 Similar and Opposite Words

strikes 1 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of strike

as in walks

to refuse to work in order to force an employer to meet demands the union is calling for its members to strike until the mining company agrees to meet safety standards

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Relevance

as in affects

to act upon (a person or a person's feelings) so as to cause a response we were struck by the willingness of total strangers to go out of their way to help us

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as in occurs (to)

to enter the mind of it struck her later that no one at the bank had asked for identification

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as in collides

to come into usually forceful contact with something the thump of hailstones striking the cars in the parking lot

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as in hits

to deliver a blow to (someone or something) usually in a strong vigorous manner the driver of the car behind me applied his brakes too late and struck my car from the rear

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as in dismantles

to take apart the stagehands struck the sets the morning after the play closed

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as in attacks

to take sudden, violent action against a rattlesnake strikes its prey with lightning speed

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as in possesses

to cast a spell on the only way that she's going to get a man is if she strikes one

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blesses

strikes

2 of 2

noun

plural of strike

as in walkouts

a work stoppage by a body of workers intended to force an employer to meet their demands the nurses will go on strike tomorrow unless they're finally given a pay raise

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as in assaults

the act or action of setting upon with force or violence the first strike was directed at a munitions warehouse

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as in disadvantages

a feature of someone or something that creates difficulty for achieving success kids born into poverty already have a strike against them

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as in collisions

a forceful coming together of two things the strike of a hammer against a nail always has a satisfying sound when you're building something yourself

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as in accidents

an unexpected benefit or advantage resulting from the uncertain course of events she's made one strike after another since she began speculating in real estate

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of strikes

Verb

This strikes me as an inelegant way to write Tommy off the show, if that’s indeed what’s happening. —

Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 27 Apr. 2026 When midnight strikes, everything shifts. —

Jason Phillips, USA Today, 27 Apr. 2026 His absence strikes a mighty blow for the Timberwolves, who rely on DiVincenzo for a multitude of contributions. —

Marcus Thompson Ii, New York Times, 26 Apr. 2026 Roupp threw 103 pitches, 66 of them strikes. —

Jerry McDonald, Mercury News, 26 Apr. 2026 Critics, meanwhile, have questioned the overall legality of the boat strikes. —

CBS News, 26 Apr. 2026 Many countries, legal experts and human rights groups call the boat strikes extrajudicial attacks in violation of international law. —

Los Angeles Times, 25 Apr. 2026 The current limit of two four-year terms strikes a good balance, allowing supervisors time to complete projects and foster strong connections while still ensuring opportunities for new leaders. —

Norma Contreras, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Apr. 2026 This two-piece strikes the right balance between casual and stylish. —

Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 17 Apr. 2026

Noun

The strikes sparked fires at the facility, which processes 15 million tons of oil a year and produces gasoline, diesel and jet fuel for the Russian military. —

Samya Kullab, Los Angeles Times, 26 Apr. 2026 The majority of these strikes happen during the summer, causing around 20 fatalities each year, according to the NWS. —

Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 26 Apr. 2026 Lebanon’s state news agency reported four people were killed in strikes in the country’s south. —

Sarah D. Wire, USA Today, 26 Apr. 2026 Like the slider was decent today, but not a lot of strikes with it. —

Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 26 Apr. 2026 Preemptive strikes are a very questionable tactic unless the evidence of necessity is overwhelming. —

Gary Franks, Hartford Courant, 26 Apr. 2026 Those strikes have killed at least two dozen people since the ceasefire went into effect, according to the Lebanese ministry of health. —

Npr Staff, NPR, 26 Apr. 2026 The prediction market order in particular appeared to be a backhanded callout of the recent eyebrow-raising bets on the strikes in Iran and the removal of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, which some critics have cited as signs of potential insider trading. —

Olivia Olander, Chicago Tribune, 26 Apr. 2026 Another person was killed in a separate Russian attack on Dnipro Saturday afternoon, according to Hanzha, in the same residential area hit by the overnight strikes. —

Elise Morton, Arkansas Online, 26 Apr. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for strikes

Verb

As Romans walks into his barn office, which seems not big enough to contain his 6-foot-2-inch frame, his longtime worker, Cristina Bahena, walks in with a big foam cup filled with ice, wordlessly handing it to Romans.

— Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 2 May 2026
Echevarria is the rare president who walks amid stretching players before games, has accompanied players to the NFL draft and fills his game suite with not just UM but national celebrities.

— Dave Hyde, Sun Sentinel, 2 May 2026