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

The first line of the text, the strokes that begin to fill the white background, mark a fundamental choice that will determine everything that flows from there. — Literary Hub, 8 Oct. 2026 Apparently, Tony Romo shaved two strokes off his final round scorecard. — Zach Dean Outkick, FOXNews.com, 8 Oct. 2026 Angle the brush at about 45 degrees where the tooth meets the gum and use short, gentle circular or overlapping strokes. — Ryan Brennan, Kansas City Star, 7 Oct. 2026 The inside surfaces of your front teeth are hard to reach with horizontal strokes. — Ryan Brennan, Charlotte Observer, 7 Oct. 2026 Cold homes can raise blood pressure and increase the risk of heart attacks and strokes, particularly among older adults. — Sanya Carley, Time, 7 Oct. 2026 It should be avoided in cases of hypercholesterolemia and cardiovascular disease, as well as by those who have a family history of heart attacks and strokes. — Veronica Cristino, Vogue, 5 Oct. 2026 The mark appears to have been made using a multiplicity of short horizontal strokes, blurred and blended together. — Barry Schwabsky, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2026 The shape gives my fingers a natural place to settle, providing a secure grip when shifting between detailed lines and broad strokes. — Kimberly Gedeon, PC Magazine, 30 Sep. 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 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

The exact lipstick your friend swipes on will not necessarily land the same way on you.

— Samantha Agate, Miami Herald, 1 Oct. 2026
The display glasses didn’t always respond to thumb swipes and sometimes lagged after voice commands.

— Sebastian Herrera, Fortune, 24 Sep. 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

Noun

Ditka and Ryan had an often adversarial relationship, with the two nearly coming to blows during halftime of the team's only 1985 season loss, to the Miami Dolphins.

— ABC News, ABC News, 9 Oct. 2026
Even with a human controlling the machine remotely, LaPenna was still trading blows with a heavy metal robot capable of putting real force behind its movements.

— Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 5 Oct. 2026

Definition of blows

Noun

The fight took a physical toll on LaPenna The physical side of the fight became pretty clear once LaPenna started trading punches with the robots.

— Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 5 Oct. 2026
Canada’s import bans Washington may be taking a light touch approach to the AI industry, but the administration is pulling no punches with Canada.

— Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 30 Sep. 2026

Definition of punches

Verb

The editorial praises the Shedd for trying to save the whales in this time of crisis, even though the animals had a record of previous poor living conditions and dubious care.

— Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 4 Oct. 2026
Sandy praises her crew for performing efficiently under pressure, and gives out the $1,807 each of them earned from a $23,500 tip.

— Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 22 Sep. 2026