STROKES Synonyms: 170 Similar and Opposite Words

strokes 1 of 2

noun

plural of stroke

as in swipes

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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strokes

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of stroke

as in caresses

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

as in massages

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 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 strokes

Noun

Second-round leader Haeran Ryu, who birdied her last three holes, still led the tournament by four strokes after a 4-under 68 and a three-round total of 17-under 199. — ABC News, 24 Oct. 2026 Working in quick, gentle strokes, Abrams used her brush and sprayer to peel away dirt hiding the floral details on Eliza’s grave before moving to the next. — Kimberlee Kruesi, Fortune, 22 Oct. 2026 Companies like CureMetrix use these AI tools to also look for calcium deposits in the breast arteries, which is linked to higher risk of cardiovascular events like strokes and heart attacks. — Maggie Ryan, Flow Space, 22 Oct. 2026 These effects could help explain why people who regularly drink tea have lower rates of strokes, heart attacks and other serious consequences of cardiovascular disease. — Faye Chiu, CNN Money, 21 Oct. 2026 Revlon designed the pointed applicator to draw hair-like strokes for brows, so a precise dot on skin is well within its range. — Ashley Lynch, Miami Herald, 21 Oct. 2026 One of the many clever strokes in Andrew O’Hagan’s 2024 novel Caledonian Road was casting his floundering, public intellectual hero as the author of a best-selling biography of Johannes Vermeer. — Susan Tallman, The New York Review of Books, 17 Oct. 2026 Some studies have shown that following high-protein diets can help burn extra calories, Aziz said, but consuming too much protein can increase the risk of kidney stones, heart attacks and strokes. — Sadie Chafe, FOXNews.com, 15 Oct. 2026 In broad, romantic strokes, Diotima is Scott’s ultimate muse. — José Criales-Unzueta, Vanity Fair, 14 Oct. 2026

Verb

The young woman on the left strokes her hair and tells her not to be nervous. — Anna Griffin, New York Times, 4 Oct. 2026 When Robbie first strokes the plush walls, her Cathy stares with the appropriate mix of awe and terror. — Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 9 Feb. 2026 For an artisanal twist, look no further than Ezcaray Matisse throw that looks as if Georgia O’Keeffe applied the paint brush strokes herself. — Kristine Hansen, Architectural Digest, 8 Jan. 2026 Research shows the risk of stroke also rises this time of year, and strokes present differently than heart attacks. — Allison Aubrey, NPR, 17 Dec. 2025 In the video, the cat eventually curls up in a ball and continues purring as Li strokes her head. — Lydia Patrick, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Nov. 2025 Henry brushes it off as a nightmare; after Bug moves on, Beauchamp strokes the medallion and sings himself to sleep. — Kimberly Roots, TVLine, 22 Aug. 2025 In the town’s maternity ward, the only functioning facility of its kind for miles, Taisiya strokes Assol, her daughter born Sunday into a world where suddenly the risks of being in Sloviansk have multiplied. — Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 11 Aug. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for strokes

Noun

Behind the metallic Ray-Ban logo on the right temple is a touch surface for taps and swipes to accept calls and control audio playback.

— Will Greenwald, PC Magazine, 13 Oct. 2026
On social media, the campaign has highlighted events such as Begich’s visit to the Alaska State Fair and recently has taken swipes at Hill.

— Becky Bohrer, Los Angeles Times, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of swipes

Verb

The center also has hydrotherapy chairs where athletes can lie as a jet of water, similar but much stronger than the jets in a jacuzzi, massages them.

— Lawrence Dow, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 19 Nov. 2025
In a viral video shared on Instagram last Sunday under the username @whiskeytoller, the gray kitty can be seen hanging around his brother, Oakley, as his mom massages the injured area, doing his best to show his love and support.

— Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Nov. 2025

Definition of massages

Verb

Special envoy Steve Witkoff praises President Vladimir Putin after Russia frees a retired American teacher.

— David Hickey, NBC news, 21 Oct. 2026
Levine praises a call from Israel’s president Levine was recovering Sunday from injuries that included what appeared to be stab wounds in her buttocks, which required stitches.

— Cara Anna, Chicago Tribune, 18 Oct. 2026