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
Relevance
1
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
2
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
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Recent Examples of strokes
Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 5 Sep. 2025
Apply a base layer of detangling spray to the area, and use a wide-tooth comb or detangling brush to gently work at the mat, starting at the outer edges (closest to your ends, not your roots) and using small strokes.
—Grace McCarty, Glamour, 5 Sep. 2025
The therapist will apply slow and light strokes to the muscles to prepare them.
—Julie Marks, Verywell Health, 4 Sep. 2025
The businesses that will achieve lasting visibility are those that use AI to scale their genuine insights and problem-solving abilities, not those trying to game the system with generic content autogenerated by AI that only knows broad strokes about the details of your operations.
—Joe Toscano, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
The top junior player in the country leads with a score of 7-under, two strokes ahead of Nicholas Logis.
—Julio Cesar Valdera Morales, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Aug. 2025
Nashville State also offers an occupational therapy assistance program, which may involve helping patients after surgery, car crashes, strokes or other ailments.
—Beth Warren, The Tennessean, 21 Aug. 2025
In 2022, the Broncos finished 32 strokes behind the Falcons in the section championship.
—Don Norcross, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Aug. 2025
Wegovy is already approved to treat obesity and to prevent heart attacks and strokes in people at high risk for these events.
—Tom Gavin, EverydayHealth.com, 19 Aug. 2025
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
Noun
As Thursday night rolled into Friday morning, Anisimova’s strokes had the same frozen-rope surety that had gotten her past Świątek in the quarterfinal.
—Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 5 Sep. 2025
Apply a base layer of detangling spray to the area, and use a wide-tooth comb or detangling brush to gently work at the mat, starting at the outer edges (closest to your ends, not your roots) and using small strokes.
—Grace McCarty, Glamour, 5 Sep. 2025
The therapist will apply slow and light strokes to the muscles to prepare them.
—Julie Marks, Verywell Health, 4 Sep. 2025
The businesses that will achieve lasting visibility are those that use AI to scale their genuine insights and problem-solving abilities, not those trying to game the system with generic content autogenerated by AI that only knows broad strokes about the details of your operations.
—Joe Toscano, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
The top junior player in the country leads with a score of 7-under, two strokes ahead of Nicholas Logis.
—Julio Cesar Valdera Morales, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Aug. 2025
Nashville State also offers an occupational therapy assistance program, which may involve helping patients after surgery, car crashes, strokes or other ailments.
—Beth Warren, The Tennessean, 21 Aug. 2025
In 2022, the Broncos finished 32 strokes behind the Falcons in the section championship.
—Don Norcross, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Aug. 2025
Wegovy is already approved to treat obesity and to prevent heart attacks and strokes in people at high risk for these events.
—Tom Gavin, EverydayHealth.com, 19 Aug. 2025
Verb
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
-
Beyond clicks and swipes, leaders should anticipate a future of inner speech, intention markers, and neuro-physiological feedback.—
Jason Snyder,
Forbes.com,
31 Aug. 2025
-
That set them up for a quick dispatch via a series of sword swipes.—
Zackery Cuevas,
PC Magazine,
20 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Rodgers took four sacks and three other hits, including multiple heavy blows.—
Mike Sando,
New York Times,
8 Sep. 2025
-
Last March, Mariah The Scientist allegedly came to blows with Young Thug’s former lover, Cleopatra Dues, at an Atlanta lounge.—
DeMicia Inman,
VIBE.com,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Penny pats Harry's snout and jumps at his face at home.—
Rachael O'Connor,
MSNBC Newsweek,
20 Aug. 2025
-
As a matter of fact, pats on the back are probably very few and far between.—
Nour Rahal,
Freep.com,
10 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Mia puffs up her body to look intimidating, as the googly-eyed statue stares back at her.—
Rachael O'Connor,
MSNBC Newsweek,
12 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Pop princess Kylie Minogue landed some punches as Cammy White in the 1994 Street Fighter film.—
Christopher Rudolph,
PEOPLE,
6 Sep. 2025
-
The one-two-three judicial punches could risk the president's plans to deport as many as 1 million people per year.—
Lauren Villagran,
USA Today,
6 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
While Bernhardt praises her gifts, the French diva doesn’t hold back in her stinging criticism of the production, calling it the same old prewar Italian theater, out of touch with the times.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
5 Sep. 2025
-
And Lauren, who initially praises his new short story for its trauma narrative.—
Jane Ciabattari
August 26,
Literary Hub,
26 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Broncos head coach Sean Payton regularly commends Lazzaro’s work, both in terms of on-field data and research, and also in the scouting and draft realms.—
Parker Gabriel,
Denver Post,
15 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Touted as the second-highest fine ever levied by the board, many observers struggled to view it as anything but the gentlest of wrist slaps.—
DAVID AMSDEN,
Rolling Stone,
29 Aug. 2025
-
They were then categorized by behavior, including jumps, belly rolls, tail slaps, bow riding and even petting.—
Brendan Rascius,
Miami Herald,
13 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Strokes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/strokes. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.
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