STROKING Synonyms: 78 Similar and Opposite Words

stroking

verb

present participle of stroke

as in caressing

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

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as in massaging

to praise too much a politician with a special gift for stroking fat-cat donors

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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 stroking Guests have reported footsteps in the attic, the feeling of someone stroking their face, a shower rode repeatedly flying off the wall and loud noises from outside the front door when no one is there. — Kaitlyn Keegan, Hartford Courant, 25 Sep. 2026 There was only one other visitor, another mother stroking another small head. — Fran Moreland Johns, The Atlantic, 11 May 2026 Alongside Cruise feeding and stroking his dying cat while walking around his mansion with his gut hanging out, there are shots of planes readying for battle and collapsing polar ice caps. — Brent Lang, Variety, 15 Apr. 2026 Two-year-old Lily Capasso stopped by, stroking a small paint brush on the starting line – a sign that the world’s most iconic marathon is for everyone, no matter their age. — Lance Reynolds, Boston Herald, 15 Apr. 2026 Elton John doing a handstand on his keyboard, Roger Daltrey stroking a microphone, Ian Anderson making the flute somehow look cool — his pictures became a means of connection for fans. — David Di Sabatino, SPIN, 3 Apr. 2026 At first, Hanke thought Miyabi was just stroking his ego. — Lucia Cheng, Des Moines Register, 25 Mar. 2026 She was later reunited with her dog, stroking him in stunned silence before being taken to the hospital. — Danielle Bacher, PEOPLE, 20 Jan. 2026 At first, wishes were made on the unbroken bones of the furcula by gently stroking them. — Katie Wiseman, IndyStar, 25 Nov. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for stroking

Verb

In one video, pop singer Madison Beer was seen caressing Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert's face as if the two were shooting a scene straight out of a reality show.

— Joe Kinsey OutKick, FOXNews.com, 14 Aug. 2026
In the snap, Portman, who’s expecting her third baby, her first with partner Tanguy Destable, could be seen standing in front of an apartment balcony in an oversized blue button-down, caressing her stomach.

— Kayla Grant, PEOPLE, 29 July 2026

Definition of caressing

Verb

In this case, there’s no swiping or rubbing at all—just let the pads sit and soak in for a few minutes before gently patting in the excess.

— Jenny Jin, Glamour, 29 Sep. 2026
His goal late against the Leafs was due and showed his hands and dexterity for a big man taking a puck off the wall and patting it in at the post.

— Scott Wheeler, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2026

Definition of patting

Verb

In Rubin’s case, that amounted to a single video of him speaking at the event, while Ventura posted nearly two dozen times praising Hilton or attacking Becerra.

— Ben Paviour, Sacbee.com, 2 Oct. 2026
Rather than rebut them, Paxton uses footage of his daughter Mattie Hayworth praising him as a fighter for family values and role model for his grandchildren.

— Matthew Choi, Washington Post, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of praising

Verb

In between posts promoting her events, Campbell Ortiz frequently posted about her children, congratulating one daughter for graduating high school and wishing one son happy birthday and cheering on his basketball team.

— Roni Jacobson, New York Daily News, 23 Sep. 2026
Try sending a useful article, congratulating a client on a milestone, sharing an industry development or simply checking in periodically.

— Peter Burns, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2026

Definition of congratulating

Verb

So how did that work out for you, with this whole world applauding you for this, and then knowing people are pissed off too?

— Chris Willman, Variety, 1 Oct. 2026
The post was accompanied by pictures of him in a Man City shirt celebrating with club chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak, lifting the Champions League trophy, applauding the fans and celebrating the Premier League title in 2023.

— ABC News, ABC News, 30 Sep. 2026

Definition of applauding

Verb

Ever since the German medical scientist Franz Hermann Müller published solid evidence of a link between smoking and lung cancer in 1939, the health risks of puffing on tobacco have only become clearer.

— Mike McRae September 10, New Atlas, 10 Sep. 2026
Throughout Thursday’s ruling, Judge Bryan Biedscheid compared Meta and its suite of apps to a factory — and its harm to puffing toxins into the air.

— Ramishah Maruf, CNN Money, 6 Aug. 2026

Definition of puffing

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“Stroking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stroking. Accessed 5 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of stroking

verb

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