strike 1 of 2

Definition of strikenext
1
as in to walk
to refuse to work in order to force an employer to meet demands the union is calling for its members to strike until the mining company agrees to meet safety standards

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
3
as in to occur (to)
to enter the mind of it struck her later that no one at the bank had asked for identification

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

4
5
6
7
8
as in to possess
to cast a spell on the only way that she's going to get a man is if she strikes one

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

strike

2 of 2

noun

1
as in walkout
a work stoppage by a body of workers intended to force an employer to meet their demands the nurses will go on strike tomorrow unless they're finally given a pay raise

Synonyms & Similar Words

2
3
4
5
as in accident
an unexpected benefit or advantage resulting from the uncertain course of events she's made one strike after another since she began speculating in real estate

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb strike differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of strike are affect, impress, influence, sway, and touch. While all these words mean "to produce or have an effect upon," strike, similar to but weaker than impress, may convey the notion of sudden sharp perception or appreciation.

struck by the solemnity of the occasion

Where would affect be a reasonable alternative to strike?

The meanings of affect and strike largely overlap; however, affect implies the action of a stimulus that can produce a response or reaction.

the sight affected her to tears

When can impress be used instead of strike?

While the synonyms impress and strike are close in meaning, impress stresses the depth and persistence of the effect.

only one of the plans impressed him

When might influence be a better fit than strike?

The words influence and strike are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, influence implies a force that brings about a change (as in nature or behavior).

our beliefs are influenced by our upbringing

In what contexts can sway take the place of strike?

The synonyms sway and strike are sometimes interchangeable, but sway implies the acting of influences that are not resisted or are irresistible, with resulting change in character or course of action.

politicians who are swayed by popular opinion

When is touch a more appropriate choice than strike?

The words touch and strike can be used in similar contexts, but touch may carry a vivid suggestion of close contact and may connote stirring, arousing, or harming.

plants touched by frost
his emotions were touched by her distress

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 strike
Verb
The snow covered ice that has lingered on driveways since last weekend’s monster snow and ice storm that struck the Charlotte region and much of the rest of the state. Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 5 Feb. 2026 The pair argued briefly before Padilla drew his weapon and fired, striking Roberts once in the heart. Colin Mixson, New York Daily News, 5 Feb. 2026
Noun
Israel's military did not immediately respond to questions about either strike. Arkansas Online, 11 Feb. 2026 In addition, a labor strike hurts every other league … in one way or another. Rick Burton, Sportico.com, 11 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for strike
Recent Examples of Synonyms for strike
Verb
  • Elsewhere along the beach, Grey walked along the shoreline as waves broke at her feet.
    Danielle Minnetian, FOXNews.com, 10 Feb. 2026
  • That night, Annette Smith texted them to say Chad Smith and Sam Arlia were walking near Coit and Frankford Road when two cars were involved in an accident.
    Erin Jones, CBS News, 10 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • When the estrogen hormone declines during perimenopause, the body’s insulin sensitivity decreases, too, which affects overall metabolism.
    Alexa Mikhail, Flow Space, 13 Feb. 2026
  • The manipulations also affected how much sadness and anger participants reported feeling while scrolling.
    Simon Makin, Scientific American, 13 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Since each comic scheduled for the night was allocated 10 minutes, Montoya decided to bump a performer and split the four drop-ins into five minutes each — two early on, and the last two at the end of the night.
    Anthony Solorzano, Los Angeles Times, 5 Feb. 2026
  • Some items now available at the fest, which began Jan 30, will go away at a predetermined (and published) date, replaced by other items that will, in turn, be bumped for a third option.
    Dewayne Bevil, The Orlando Sentinel, 5 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • As former agent and cap expert Joel Corry told me, the amount that Ross agrees to pay of Tagovailoa’s 2026 salary (for a new team) would not have much effect on his Dolphins’ dead money cap hit provided the trade is made after June 1.
    Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 13 Feb. 2026
  • Some of the students at Naperville North tried to mimic the coach’s actions, working on their technique, while other appeared to be more focused on hitting the ball to their friend as hard as possible.
    Carolyn Stein, Chicago Tribune, 13 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • This approach treats migrants as human beings, dismantles trafficking incentives, lowers taxpayer costs, and complements federal ICE enforcement within Texas’s constitutional authority.
    Eleanor Dearman, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Feb. 2026
  • The missive comes as Florida enforces a sweeping ban on gender-affirming care for minors and dismantles traditional accreditation requirements for lawyers and universities.
    Garrett Shanley, Miami Herald, 13 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Mobs attacked television vans and set cars ablaze as overrun hospitals struggled to cope with scores of injured people.
    Rhea Mogul, CNN Money, 6 Feb. 2026
  • The complication is not well understood but appears to be the result of the virus prompting the immune system to attack a certain protein that some brain cells produce.
    Meghan Bartels, Scientific American, 5 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • According to Deadline, Charli will be possessed by a violent, tortured spirit in director Takashi Miike’s upcoming untitled slasher-horror film that is scheduled to start filming in Japan next month; the role was previously reported, but the details about the plot are new.
    Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 10 Feb. 2026
  • Between lunch and dinner, something possessed Ben to feel bad about being too harsh on his sous.
    Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 10 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • The walkout comes as teacher unions in Los Angeles and San Diego have authorized strikes.
    Christopher Buchanan, Los Angeles Times, 9 Feb. 2026
  • On Friday, hundreds of Louisville students participated in school walkouts to protest recent actions of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents.
    Stephanie Stremplewski, Louisville Courier Journal, 8 Feb. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Strike.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/strike. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on strike

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!