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
Justin Ray, New York Times, 15 Mar. 2026
If untreated, moderate and severe cases can lead to high blood pressure, diabetes, stroke, or heart attack.
—Gilad Edelman, The Atlantic, 15 Mar. 2026
Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 9 Feb. 2026
She was later reunited with her dog, stroking him in stunned silence before being taken to the hospital.
—Danielle Bacher, PEOPLE, 20 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for stroke
Noun
The largest final-round comeback to win The Players at TPC Sawgrass is five strokes, which has been done on three occasions, and most recently by Scheffler two years ago.
—Justin Ray, New York Times, 15 Mar. 2026
If untreated, moderate and severe cases can lead to high blood pressure, diabetes, stroke, or heart attack.
—Gilad Edelman, The Atlantic, 15 Mar. 2026
Verb
When Robbie first strokes the plush walls, her Cathy stares with the appropriate mix of awe and terror.
—Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 9 Feb. 2026
She was later reunited with her dog, stroking him in stunned silence before being taken to the hospital.
—Danielle Bacher, PEOPLE, 20 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for stroke
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stroke
Noun
-
The final blow came in the 70th minute with Sveindís Jónsdóttir’s run down the left flank, setting up Miahara Niehues, making a late run in the middle, for the finish.—
Damian Calhoun,
Daily News,
16 Mar. 2026
-
Hot tools are big and bulky, and most hotels provide some sort of blow dryer.—
Rylee Johnston,
Travel + Leisure,
15 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The basis of the important therapy stems from studies showing that holding and caressing an animal provides benefits such as relaxation, lower blood pressure, decreasing anxiety, and increasing positivity, according to the news release.—
Dawn Giangiulio,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
15 Feb. 2026
-
Williams knows how to humanize this bare-bones vocabulary, minutely adjusting the voicing of a chord or caressing the last of a set of recurring motifs with a regretful ritardando.—
Alex Ross,
New Yorker,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Front-row seats offer 30-way adjustability and massaging capabilities.—
James Raia,
Mercury News,
10 Mar. 2026
-
The main specific risk is the potential for nodules or granulomas (small bumps) forming under the skin, especially if improperly placed or massaged.—
Cindy Krischer Goodman,
Sun Sentinel,
5 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Senate Bill 134 would generally exempt sales taxes from the swipe fee calculation, a move that supporters say would help save businesses money.—
The Denver Post,
Denver Post,
14 Mar. 2026
-
So games that normally rely on swipes or button presses can instead be controlled by stepping left or right, jumping or shifting body weight on the pad.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
David Zaslav stopped by to chat with DiCaprio too, patting his star on the back.—
Lindsey Bahr,
Chicago Tribune,
16 Mar. 2026
-
David Zaslav stopped by to chat with DiCaprio too, patting his star on the back.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
15 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
There’s something about puff sleeves that can instantly elevate any top.—
Jasmine Gomez,
Travel + Leisure,
15 Mar. 2026
-
The actors paced in the wings puffing on cigarettes, watching the sliding door in case the fireman should catch them.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
13 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The Ambeo Mini comes with six drivers, including two four-inch woofers that push bass down to 43Hz, creating theater-quality thump without needing a separate subwoofer.—
Juhi Wadia,
PC Magazine,
13 Mar. 2026
-
There was a sudden, loud thump, and Bernie Watermolen brought us awake with a yell that was enough to raise the dead.—
Doris DeCleene,
Outdoor Life,
25 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The moderator also congratulated all nominees and the presenters and winners who expressed their beliefs on air.—
Greg Evans,
Deadline,
16 Mar. 2026
-
After the wins, many around the families were eager to congratulate them as well.—
Lindsey Bahr,
Chicago Tribune,
16 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Stroke.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stroke. Accessed 19 Mar. 2026.
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