as in blow
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 to caress
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 to massage
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
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Recent Examples of stroke
Julio Cesar Valdera Morales, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 July 2025
For most adults, drinking two to three cups of coffee a day is safe, but for people with severe high blood pressure, drinking this amount can double the risk of a heart attack or stroke.
—Md Published, Verywell Health, 19 July 2025
Steve Gorten, Miami Herald, 6 July 2025
In central Gaza, a boy stroked the face of his dead sister, 6-year-old Heba Abu Etiwi, in a morgue at Al Aqsa Martyrs’ Hospital.
—Melanie Lidman, Los Angeles Times, 3 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for stroke
Noun
Scottie Scheffler won the Open Championship with a score of 17-under, four strokes ahead of runner-up Harris English.
—Julio Cesar Valdera Morales, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 July 2025
For most adults, drinking two to three cups of coffee a day is safe, but for people with severe high blood pressure, drinking this amount can double the risk of a heart attack or stroke.
—Md Published, Verywell Health, 19 July 2025
Verb
Facing two strikes, Ramírez stroked a single off reliever Jared Koenig into left field, bringing home two runs.
—Steve Gorten, Miami Herald, 6 July 2025
In central Gaza, a boy stroked the face of his dead sister, 6-year-old Heba Abu Etiwi, in a morgue at Al Aqsa Martyrs’ Hospital.
—Melanie Lidman, Los Angeles Times, 3 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for stroke
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stroke
Noun
-
The title bout bore out as a chess match, as the ISL school traded blows with one of the top MIAA teams from the South Shore.—
Brendan Connelly,
Boston Herald,
19 July 2025
-
Smith shoved the gun in the guy’s gut, took the blow, then left.—
John J. Lennon,
Rolling Stone,
19 July 2025
Verb
-
The camera caresses her, slicing her body into limbs, arcs, glints of effort.—
arkansasonline.com,
arkansasonline.com,
10 July 2025
-
Every single person who worked on the film caressed and massaged this sequence, including through post.—
Brian Davids,
HollywoodReporter,
5 July 2025
Verb
-
By the late Nineties, flimsy strictures of economic decorum were being made even flimsier: massage the losses, underestimate the debts, off-load liabilities into subsidiaries, hide who owns them.—
Leigh Claire La Berge,
Harpers Magazine,
16 July 2025
-
Just massage this lightweight formula into the scalp to reinvigorate follicles, prevent damage, and retain moisture.—
Kiana Murden,
Vogue,
15 July 2025
Noun
-
The comment quickly stirred debate online—some viewed it as a swipe at Dr. Dre, while others interpreted it as Quik simply affirming his own stature as a production powerhouse whose contributions have long flown under the radar.—
Preezy Brown,
VIBE.com,
23 July 2025
-
Trust and consistent check-ins build more insight and loyalty than tracking badge swipes.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
18 July 2025
Verb
-
Slim promptly pockets and pats them for safekeeping.—
Jennifer Leigh Parker,
Forbes.com,
25 July 2025
-
Brinkley recounts that Billy made his way over to the piano and patted the bench.—
Richard Johnson,
New York Daily News,
20 July 2025
Verb
-
Electrolytes that transport electrons can decompose into flammable gases and puff up your battery into a spicy little pillow, for example.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
11 July 2025
-
Cover with plastic wrap or a kitchen towel and let rest at warm room temperature until puffed and slightly risen, 30-40 minutes.—
Gretchen McKay,
Boston Herald,
11 June 2025
Noun
-
Riley Greene and Spencer Torkelson give this team just enough thump to be dangerous.—
Tony Blengino,
Forbes.com,
23 July 2025
-
The team pulled off a shocking blockbuster by landing franchise slugger Rafael Devers from the Boston Red Sox, immediately filling its need for some left-handed thump in the batting order.—
Peter Chawaga,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 June 2025
Verb
-
Catcher Connor Wong #12 of the Boston Red Sox congratulates Aroldis Chapman #44 after their 4-1 win over the Tampa Bay Rays at Fenway Park on July 13, 2025 in Boston, Massachusetts.—
Zach Pressnell,
MSNBC Newsweek,
15 July 2025
-
Friends star Courteney Cox and her boyfriend, singer Johnny McDaid, congratulated Iga Świątek after her Women’s Singles win on Saturday at Wimbledon.—
Tim Lammers,
Forbes.com,
13 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Stroke.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stroke. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.
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