Synonyms of strokes

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

• swipes
• blows
• punches
• thumps
• thuds
• pounds
• slaps
• hits
• whacks
• licks
• pokes
• knocks
• spanks
• smacks
• bangs
• beats
• clips
• claps
• swats
• slams
• lashes
• hooks
• hands
• chops
• stripes
• cuffs
• socks
• fillips
• thwacks
• switches
• welts
• bats
• hacks
• belts
• dabs
• knees
• whams
• raps
• biffs
• pelts
• lickings
• haymakers
• kicks
• clouts
• buffets
• stingers
• swings
• slugs
• cracks
• bops
• beatings
• boxes
• plumps
• bashes
• smashes
• wallops
• picks
• whops
• busts
• douses
• larrups
• counterstrokes
• lefts
• counterpunches
• shivers
• batterings
• thrashings
• counters
• rabbit punches
• counterblows
• uppercuts
• body blows
• whippings
• right-handers
• sucker punches
• rights
• whips
• knockdowns
• drubbings
• roundhouses
• pastings
• sidewinders
• bastinadoes
• crunchers
• wallopings
• one-twos
• KOs
• kayos
• knockouts

strokes

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of stroke

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

• caresses
• pats
• loves
• hugs
• fondles
• pets
• gentles
• cradles
• spoons
• paws
• nuzzles
• snuggles
• cuddles
• massages
• necks
• kneads
• noses
• babies
• dandles
• bounces
• feels up
• enfolds
• bills
• canoodles
• nestles
• pampers
• embraces
• indulges
• spoils
• coddles
• mollycoddles

2

as in massages

to praise too much

a politician with a special gift for stroking fat-cat donors

Synonyms & Similar Words

• massages
• puffs
• praises
• commends
• applauds
• congratulates
• butters up
• overpraises
• soft-soaps
• flatters
• coaxes
• belauds
• adulates
• honeys
• cajoles
• sucks (up to)
• blarneys
• wheedles
• woos
• compliments
• fawns
• kowtows
• hero-worships
• blandishes
• eulogizes
• sweet-talks
• idolizes
• felicitates
• extols
• ingratiates
• gushes
• worships
• romances
• toadies
• lauds
• slobbers
• courts
• endears
• slavers
• drools

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• puts down
• depreciates
• decries
• disparages
• belittles
• bad-mouths

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of strokes

Noun

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

The discovery of the left atrial septal pouch is about more than preventing strokes. — Subramaniam C. Krishnan, STAT, 28 Sep. 2026

Heart attacks and strokes occur disproportionately following rejections, and rejected individuals often show symptoms that are typically associated with drug withdrawal, including anxiety, depression, crying, loss of appetite, and irritability. — George Loewenstein, Vogue, 28 Sep. 2026

But hypertension kills silently, one person at a time, and is the precursor to many heart attacks, strokes and kidney failure. — Garth Walker, Chicago Tribune, 28 Sep. 2026

The Englishman shot a 1-under 70 in the final round and was 20 under for the tournament, outclassing the chasing pack led by Spaniard Ángel Hidalgo (67), who finished three strokes back. — ABC News, 27 Sep. 2026

Instead of long lashes, Charli went for just a few strokes of mascara. — Kara Nesvig, Allure, 27 Sep. 2026

Among the younger adults who experienced strokes, there was an increase in hypertension, diabetes, atrial fibrillation (irregular heartbeat) and substance use. — Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 24 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