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

After shooting 70, Koepka was 3-under for the tournament, which gave him a T67 finish and put him 19 strokes behind the winner, Michael Brennan. — Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 10 Aug. 2026 Beginning Thursday, the Fort Worth Fire Department has been diverting ambulances carrying patients with trauma, strokes and STEMI heart attacks to other hospitals, according to Star-Telegram media partner WFAA-TV. — Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Aug. 2026 Adams says there is promising research that suggests that hormone therapy, when taken before age 60 or within 10 years since menopause, might help prevent atherosclerosis, heart attacks and strokes. — Mara Gordon, NPR, 7 Aug. 2026 None of the participants had signs of vascular cognitive impairment, a condition linked to strokes and small-vessel disease. — Lily Alvino, NBC news, 7 Aug. 2026 Its venom can trigger internal bleeding, neurological problems, acute kidney injury, and strokes. — Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 6 Aug. 2026 Around them, the sand and sky are painted so thinly that the weave of the canvas shows through; the shoreline is scumbled; the distant boats are a few strokes of wet on wet paint. — Carmen Rosenberg-Miller, Artforum, 6 Aug. 2026 The claims, for which Homeland Security spent $96 million, show detainees were treated for a wide variety of conditions, including strokes, pregnancy, suicide attempts and frostbite. — Andrea Castillo, Los Angeles Times, 6 Aug. 2026 The goal is to focus on gaps in the capital markets—problems without a for-profit solution yet—and there hasn’t been enough investment in helping people deal with traumatic brain injuries or strokes. — Fortune Editors, Fortune, 5 Aug. 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

And, in fact, for all of the shock value in his writing and swipes at the food establishment, Bourdain became extraordinarily generous and even sweet as his fame grew, quick to heap praise, especially for writers and chefs on the rise.

— Laurie Ochoa, Los Angeles Times, 11 Aug. 2026
Using gestures and swipes on a traditional slab-style phone always felt cramped and imprecise when trying to pull off quick maneuvers.

— Kimberly Gedeon, PC Magazine, 24 July 2026

Definition of swipes

Verb

The Princess Diaries star smiles, caresses her belly, then ducks out of the frame.

— Redazione People, Vanity Fair, 19 June 2026
Those of us with a penchant for fashion have managed—not without effort—to put aside the knowing glances, caresses, and hugs to take in every detail of the look.

— Arancha Gamo, Glamour, 7 June 2026

Definition of caresses

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

Former boxer Prichard Colón has died at age 33, 11 years after sustaining life-altering blows to the head during the only defeat of his professional career.

— Charlotte Reck, CNN Money, 14 Aug. 2026
Some encouraging blows for common sense were struck by primary voters to our north on Tuesday, on both sides of the aisle.

— The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 12 Aug. 2026

Definition of blows

Verb

In police body camera footage, which Feder shared with WCCO, Feder gets out with his hands up and an officer pats him down.

— Ashley Grams, CBS News, 12 July 2026
Each function compares itself to that function at other companies of similar scale and the functional leader pats themselves on the back for being ahead or at least not behind.

— Keith Ferrazzi, Forbes.com, 11 June 2026

Definition of pats

Noun

The Raiders are off Sunday before returning Monday morning, so their starting quarterback and star pass rusher will compete against each other again, though, Kubiak hopes, without any punches.

— ABC News, ABC News, 8 Aug. 2026
The welcoming rum punches were a nice introduction to the soft life that this resort offers you upon entry.

— Datwon Thomas, VIBE.com, 8 Aug. 2026

Definition of punches

Verb

Guest judge Willy Chavarria praises how Jeffrey’s outfit moved (my favorite thing about it), but the strength of Naheim’s tromp l’oeil effect snags him the win, immunity for the next challenge, and $20,000 from Viva.

— Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 14 Aug. 2026
Both, along with the rest of Iraola’s staff, wasted no time trying to implement the Spaniard’s vision, helped by the clear and concise messaging Murillo praises the head coach for.

— Andy Jones, New York Times, 13 Aug. 2026