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
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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
Sam Amick, New York Times, 24 May 2026
Hull went closest on the stroke of halftime when McBurnie’s header flicked off a Middlesbrough defender and clipped the top of the crossbar.
—ABC News, 23 May 2026
Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 30 Apr. 2026
Both pups took spots next to Prince William, who appears to stroke their black cocker spaniel, Orla.
—Janine Henni, PEOPLE, 29 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for stroke
Noun
There’s a head coach in 39-year-old Mitch Johnson who has been deemed a worthy successor to the great Gregg Popovich, who suffered a stroke four months before Fox’s arrival that forced him to leave the sidelines.
—Sam Amick, New York Times, 24 May 2026
Hull went closest on the stroke of halftime when McBurnie’s header flicked off a Middlesbrough defender and clipped the top of the crossbar.
—ABC News, 23 May 2026
Verb
Last weekend, after Petteys stroked three doubles in a victory over Creighton, the Bluejays showed her the ultimate respect, walking her four times, three intentionally, during the remainder of the series at Burrill Family Field, UConn taking two of three.
—Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 30 Apr. 2026
Both pups took spots next to Prince William, who appears to stroke their black cocker spaniel, Orla.
—Janine Henni, PEOPLE, 29 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for stroke
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stroke
Noun
-
The digs at the pretensions of artists, channeled through Claire’s decision to make her death a public spectacle in order to secure some future fame, are less amusing here because the blows never seem to quite connect with their targets.—
Leslie Felperin,
HollywoodReporter,
24 May 2026
-
Meanwhile, Ozel, in his first and only election as party leader, delivered a decisive blow to Erdogan’s Justice and Development Party in the 2024 municipal polls.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
24 May 2026
Verb
-
The couple posed for photos at the event, drawing attention to their gestating bundle of joy by framing and caressing Palvin’s belly.—
Tracy Brown,
Los Angeles Times,
14 May 2026
-
Grudda pushed Barkow's wheelchair through the zoo, her hands caressing her mother's shoulders or pointing out the animals.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
21 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Badly run local governments, keen to massage numbers as well as find avenues for the huge oversupply of concrete and steel, compounded the problem.—
Chris Lau,
CNN Money,
18 May 2026
-
To heat, microwave in short intervals, massaging the rice around in between.—
Caroline Lubinsky,
Martha Stewart,
18 May 2026
Noun
-
What began as a tongue-in-cheek swipe against remarks made by the chief justice of the Supreme Court of India has snowballed into a satirical political movement on social media.—
Britannica Editors,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
23 May 2026
-
As renowned cosmetic chemist Ron Robinson explains, consumers are gravitating toward multitasking formulas that deliver both color and skin-care benefits in a single swipe.—
Conçetta Ciarlo,
Vogue,
22 May 2026
Verb
-
After Munich this year, Shelton patted himself on the back.—
Matthew Futterman,
New York Times,
25 May 2026
-
Bill de Blasio had campaigned against aggressive policing, particularly the city’s controversial policy of briefly detaining people and patting them down for weapons.—
Elizabeth Glazer,
The Atlantic,
19 May 2026
Verb
-
The ruffle puff sleeves and collar keep it polished, while the lightweight fabric offers a relaxed touch.—
Nicol Natale,
PEOPLE,
13 May 2026
-
Cook for 4-6mins on each side until puffed and cooked through.—
The Week UK,
TheWeek,
9 May 2026
Noun
-
You’ll be thrown around in your seat, which moves in sync with the action, along with thumps in the back, splashes of water, blasts of air, smoke, and flashes of light.—
Benny Har-Even,
Forbes.com,
21 May 2026
-
The Yankees need Wells to provide at least some thump in a bottom third of the order that hasn’t been very good.—
Brendan Kuty,
New York Times,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Several celebrities, including Ilana Glazer and Uzo Aduba, congratulated the couple in the comments section.—
Ashlyn Robinette,
PEOPLE,
25 May 2026
-
After congratulating each other on the mound, Aztecs players linked arms on the field, turned to their fans in the stands and sang the school’s fight song.—
Kirk Kenney,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
23 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Stroke.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stroke. Accessed 28 May. 2026.
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