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

Subscribe now University junior Lindy Gan shot a 7-under-par 65 to capture the CIF-SS individual girls golf title by four strokes at Skylinks Golf Course in Long Beach on Thursday. — Dan Albano, Oc Register, 7 Nov. 2026 An experimental drug doctors hoped would be the next big advance in preventing heart attacks and strokes failed a crucial test, researchers reported Saturday. — Rob Stein, NPR, 7 Nov. 2026 Researchers still need to find out whether treating women based on the presence of breast arterial calcification prevents heart attacks or strokes. — Matthew Nudy, The Conversation, 5 Nov. 2026 Significantly, Violini saw that even when these brushstrokes wobbled, the entire grouping of strokes wobbled in precisely the same way. — News Desk, Artforum, 5 Nov. 2026 But in broad strokes, the general lineup remains roughly the same. — Byron Hurd, The Drive, 5 Nov. 2026 Santa Margarita’s domination in high school girls golf continued Monday, with the Eagles winning the Southern Section Division 1 team title by four strokes over Orange Lutheran at Los Serranos Golf Club in Chino Hills. — Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 3 Nov. 2026 Blumenreich said there are different severities of strokes dependent on the size and location of the stroke. — Livi Stanford, Hartford Courant, 3 Nov. 2026 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

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

Chastain rimmed her green-blue eyes with black kohl and long lashes, while strategically placed swipes of highlight along her nose tied the actress’ beauty together.

— Arushi Jacob, Footwear News, 6 Nov. 2026
The color-changing formula swipes on clear, then adapts to your skin’s pH to reveal a personalized pink hue.

— Madison San Miguel, Allure, 30 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

Noun

One of the biggest economic blows, though, has come from the United Arab Emirates.

— Aya Batrawy, NPR, 13 Nov. 2026
Elsewhere, investors are absorbing the blows from a selloff in artificial intelligence stocks on Thursday, which saw the Nasdaq, S&P 500, and Russell 2000 all log their worst one-day loss since April 2025, according to FactSet data.

— Sarah Min,Sawdah Bhaimiya,Sean Conlon, CNBC, 6 Nov. 2026

Definition of blows

Verb

This refusal to look directly at the shadows is all the more aggravating given how often The Mosquito Bowl pats itself on the back for being clear-eyed.

— Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 23 Oct. 2026
As another period begins, Achord pats Melton on the head and Melton pats his coach on the back.

— Matt Schneidman, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of pats

Noun

The flavor excels because each ingredient punches above its weight.

— Nina Moskowitz, Bon Appetit Magazine, 8 Nov. 2026
Once upon a time, Georgia-Florida was an annual heavyweight fight, two proud programs trading punches and championships while their fans traded insults and cocktails in Jacksonville.

— Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 31 Oct. 2026

Definition of punches

Verb

Shopping editor Audrey Lee, who tested an earlier iteration of the Evolution, praises its high level of comfort and cooling abilities.

— Jacorey Moon, Architectural Digest, 7 Nov. 2026
Executive chef Marie Douroux at Virgin Hotels New Orleans praises these wood-growing fungi for their beauty as well as their flavor.

— Bianca Lambert, Southern Living, 23 Oct. 2026