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
as in to delete
to show (something written) to be no longer valid by drawing a cross over or a line through it
if you make a mistake on the form, just stroke it out
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of stroke
Natalie Nixon, Flow Space, 21 May 2025
Monitoring the health of presidents has long been a difficult enterprise, back to the disabling stroke that Woodrow Wilson suffered in 1919; his wife became his gatekeeper.
—Susan Page, USA Today, 20 May 2025
Hannah Sacks, People.com, 30 Apr. 2025
Janine slips June a keycard and tells her to meet her there later, then scurries off to stroke stupid Bell’s stupid ego.
—Kimberly Roots, TVLine, 22 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for stroke
Noun
Like building your inventory of courage, each bold stroke into uncertain waters expands your capacity for greatness.
—Natalie Nixon, Flow Space, 21 May 2025
Monitoring the health of presidents has long been a difficult enterprise, back to the disabling stroke that Woodrow Wilson suffered in 1919; his wife became his gatekeeper.
—Susan Page, USA Today, 20 May 2025
Verb
The singer announced the news on his Instagram with a video of himself and his newborn daughter, holding his baby girl's hand and sweetly stroking her fingers.
—Hannah Sacks, People.com, 30 Apr. 2025
Janine slips June a keycard and tells her to meet her there later, then scurries off to stroke stupid Bell’s stupid ego.
—Kimberly Roots, TVLine, 22 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for stroke
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stroke
Noun
-
In the rear of an IndyCar vehicle is a safety device called an attenuator, designed to cushion the blow from a rear impact into the wall.—
Jeff Gluck,
New York Times,
22 May 2025
-
The lawyers claim the measure signed into law by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis this month has already dealt significant blows to campaigns to expand Medicaid and legalize recreational marijuana in the state.—
Kate Payne,
Sun Sentinel,
22 May 2025
Noun
-
With his latest swipe, Duffy is looking to undercut the reason for congestion pricing by arguing that the funds generated aren’t being used to keep riders safe.—
Brady Knox,
The Washington Examiner,
23 May 2025
-
Curry’s injured thumb was famously the target of borderline dirty swipes by the Rockets.—
Joseph Dycus,
Mercury News,
22 May 2025
Noun
-
Literal flames surrounded the glow, both repelling and drawing you in more, followed by two loud, disorienting thumps.—
Christopher Rosa,
Glamour,
16 May 2025
-
Their bodies sway to the rhythmic thumps of the hypnotic music, composed by the French artist Kangding Ray.—
Lovia Gyarkye,
HollywoodReporter,
15 May 2025
Noun
-
The Bruins managed just four hits and were shut out for just the second time this season.—
Staff,
Oc Register,
26 May 2025
-
Not for attention, approbation, another hit of dopamine.—
Colin Fleming,
New York Daily News,
26 May 2025
Noun
-
Not finishing the story is a real slap in the face to all the loyal fans who did stick around.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
23 May 2025
-
During the final House vote, Republican lawmakers approached the speaker with congratulatory handshakes and back slaps.—
John Parkinson,
ABC News,
22 May 2025
Noun
-
There was no consensus on who threw the first punch at the Arlington water park at closing time on a June evening in 2021.—
Emerson Clarridge,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
23 May 2025
-
The 13-year-old threw the first punch, according to the police report that relied on security camera footage and witness accounts.—
Julia Prodis Sulek,
Mercury News,
22 May 2025
Noun
-
That’s no knock on the singing or dancing of the girls, and as a former idol herself, Kyoko Saito as Mai brings in a few performance details that are palpably drawn from a place of personal resonance.—
Josh Slater-Williams,
IndieWire,
22 May 2025
-
Sven Botman is also in contention to continue in the side but is having a fresh knee knock assessed.—
Chris Waugh,
New York Times,
16 May 2025
Noun
-
The Orioles organization has collapsed with a deadening thud.—
Reader Commentary,
Baltimore Sun,
16 May 2025
-
The big twist comes a touch too late — leaving the movie no time to deal with the ramifications of key revelations — and lands with an awkward thud.—
Lovia Gyarkye,
HollywoodReporter,
15 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Stroke.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stroke. Accessed 5 Jun. 2025.
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