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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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
Sam McDowell, Kansas City Star, 23 Apr. 2026
Research over the past decade has shown frequent users of potent marijuana are at risk for strokes, heart attacks, cardiac arrhythmias, heart failure and myocarditis, which is an inflammation of the heart muscle.
—Sandee Lamotte, CNN Money, 20 Apr. 2026
Ochoa shoots a three-under 69 in the final round of the Ginn Open and beats rookie Yani Tseng by three strokes for her fifth victory in six starts.
—Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 20 Apr. 2026
And there was a TV movie where Dirk Bogarde played Dahl, many years ago, with Glenda Jackson as Patricia Neal, about Patricia Neal’s strokes and how Dahl rehabilitated her.
—Elisabeth Garber-Paul, Rolling Stone, 19 Apr. 2026
Mi Hyang Lee is four strokes back, while a group of six, including Lottie Woad and Allisen Corpuz, is five shots behind.
—Bob Buttitta, Daily News, 19 Apr. 2026
In the playoff on the par-4 18th, Green hit a wedge from 130 yards and curled in the right-to-left breaking putt after Kim — eight strokes ahead with five holes to go Saturday in the third round — left a 35-foot birdie try short.
—ABC News, 19 Apr. 2026
Use a clean microfiber mop to clean in long strokes in the direction of the wood grain.
—Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 19 Apr. 2026
For more than 20 years, the warning has kept many women away from hormone replacement therapy after a 2002 Women’s Health Initiative study linked it to a higher risk of breast cancer, heart attacks and strokes in postmenopausal women.
—Laura Trujillo, USA Today, 17 Apr. 2026
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
Noun
The location, gorgeous skyline view and broad strokes of the project offer plenty of intrigue — offer less to quibble with than, say, a Crossroads District plan that never moved past the to-be-determined stage of displacing local businesses.
—Sam McDowell, Kansas City Star, 23 Apr. 2026
Research over the past decade has shown frequent users of potent marijuana are at risk for strokes, heart attacks, cardiac arrhythmias, heart failure and myocarditis, which is an inflammation of the heart muscle.
—Sandee Lamotte, CNN Money, 20 Apr. 2026
Ochoa shoots a three-under 69 in the final round of the Ginn Open and beats rookie Yani Tseng by three strokes for her fifth victory in six starts.
—Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 20 Apr. 2026
And there was a TV movie where Dirk Bogarde played Dahl, many years ago, with Glenda Jackson as Patricia Neal, about Patricia Neal’s strokes and how Dahl rehabilitated her.
—Elisabeth Garber-Paul, Rolling Stone, 19 Apr. 2026
Mi Hyang Lee is four strokes back, while a group of six, including Lottie Woad and Allisen Corpuz, is five shots behind.
—Bob Buttitta, Daily News, 19 Apr. 2026
In the playoff on the par-4 18th, Green hit a wedge from 130 yards and curled in the right-to-left breaking putt after Kim — eight strokes ahead with five holes to go Saturday in the third round — left a 35-foot birdie try short.
—ABC News, 19 Apr. 2026
Use a clean microfiber mop to clean in long strokes in the direction of the wood grain.
—Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 19 Apr. 2026
For more than 20 years, the warning has kept many women away from hormone replacement therapy after a 2002 Women’s Health Initiative study linked it to a higher risk of breast cancer, heart attacks and strokes in postmenopausal women.
—Laura Trujillo, USA Today, 17 Apr. 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
-
According to Instagram, Hudson’s makeup artist, Tonya Brewer, volumized her lashes with a few swipes of a smudge-free mascara, blurred her pores using a mattifying powder, defined her pout with a long-lasting lip liner, and more.—
Izzy Baskette,
PEOPLE,
16 Apr. 2026
-
After a few swipes from the bass, the big school will break up into smaller schools trying to escape, which is where your A-rig shines.—
Derek Horner,
Outdoor Life,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
And through all this, Saariaho’s elaborately beautiful orchestration scintillates, jabs, caresses, and swerves, giving all that vivid misery a sheen of lyric glamour.—
Justin Davidson,
Vulture,
7 Apr. 2026
-
Also starring Jack Palance and Fritz Lang, the behind-the-scenes drama about the making of a movie begins with Bardot lying nude on a bed as her husband (Michel Piccoli) caresses and praises her body.—
Jordan Mintzer,
HollywoodReporter,
28 Dec. 2025
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
Noun
-
The event felt like a throwback to the glitzy, lavish Hollywood premieres that used to take over the town every weekend, but have become scarce since the film business suffered a series of blows that have led to lots of belt-tightening.—
Rebecca Ford,
Vanity Fair,
21 Apr. 2026
-
The Senate’s quick passage of the 10-day patch was starkly different than the House’s rare overnight session, during which House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) was dealt two consecutive blows.—
Hailey Bullis,
The Washington Examiner,
17 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
But when Sandel saw more chimps appear, the primates did not reunite in their typical fashion of loud screaming, pats on the back and holding hands.—
Taylor Nicioli,
CNN Money,
20 Apr. 2026
-
During the performance, the singer kneels down to hand Fox the award and pats his head before continuing on.—
Luzdelia Caballero,
CBS News,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
With its telltale cone shape, the northernmost of Sicily's Aeolian Islands is home to a volcano that puffs on a near-constant basis.—
Elizabeth Heath,
Travel + Leisure,
31 Mar. 2026
-
But The Bagel Nut Duo, chocolate croissants, yellow sheet cake, and a bag of Cacio e Pepe puffs to eat your feelings about yet another recall.—
Melissa Locker,
Southern Living,
20 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Pitch invasions, punches thrown (allegedly) and promotion by a whisker in the 103rd minute.—
Phil Hay,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Dallas and Minnesota throw punches from your weight class.—
Sean Keeler,
Denver Post,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
In Margo's Got Money Troubles, Elle Fanning plays a promising first-year student at a California community college whose professor praises her work, has an affair with her, gets her pregnant, then ghosts her.—
Brittney Melton,
NPR,
24 Apr. 2026
-
Parent praises bus driver Parents said that in the moments before the crash, the bus driver slowed down and began to pull over.—
Matt Schooley,
CBS News,
13 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Strokes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/strokes. Accessed 27 Apr. 2026.
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