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
• slap
• punch
• knock
• thud
• pound
• lick
• whack
• poke
• smack
• bang
• slam
• beat
• spank
• clip
• clap
• lash
• switch
• cuff
• bat
• hook
• chop
• stripe
• kick
• belt
• knee
• hack
• crack
• sock
• swat
• slug
• clout
• bop
• pounding
• dab
• welt
• buffet
• fillip
• plump
• box
• pelt
• smash
• stinger
• biff
• licking
• bust
• wham
• hand
• rap
• wallop
• pick
• thwack
• swing
• haymaker
• bash
• beating
• counterstroke
• whap
• larrup
• douse
• left
• whop
• right
• body blow
• hammering
• counter
• counterblow
• one-two
• sucker punch
• thrashing
• shiver
• whip
• whipping
• knockdown
• uppercut
• sidewinder
• battering
• knockout
• roundhouse
• drubbing
• rabbit punch
• counterpunch
• bastinado
• pummeling
• KO
• cudgelling
• flogging
• cruncher
• bludgeoning
• pummelling
• pasting
• cudgeling
• right-hander
• bastinade
• 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
• extoll
• 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

Examples of stroke in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Studies show that being vaccinated against the flu can protect you from other health issues as well, such as heart attacks and strokes. —Alice Park, TIME, 27 Sep. 2024

For example, too much zinc contributes to cell damage and increases the risk of stroke. —Melissa Nieves, Verywell Health, 26 Sep. 2024

Verb

The Milky Way is a broad white paint stroke across the darkness. —Graham Averill, Outside Online, 11 Sep. 2024

While the rest of the cardinals are stroking their mustaches and rehearsing their pope waves, Lawrence is basically just sitting in the corner and sighing loud enough for all of Rome to hear. —David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 31 Aug. 2024

Phrases Containing stroke

• stroke (out)
• stroke of luck