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
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 stroke
Scott Neuman,
NPR,
2 July 2026
During extreme heat events, people may also experience heat stroke, which the CDC notes is when the body can no longer regulate its temperature and body temperature rises quickly, up to 106 degrees Fahrenheit or higher, within 10 to 15 minutes.
—
Yi-Jin Yu,
ABC News,
2 July 2026
Tim Willert,
Los Angeles Times,
1 June 2026
After a popout to second by first baseman Jordan Woolery, shortstop Aleena Garcia stroked an RBI single to give the Bruins a 2-1 lead.
—
Matt Murschel,
The Orlando Sentinel,
24 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for stroke
Noun
But nighttime temperatures are staying unusually warm, too, raising the risk of heat exhaustion and heat stroke even higher, especially for people without access to air conditioning.
—
Scott Neuman,
NPR,
2 July 2026
During extreme heat events, people may also experience heat stroke, which the CDC notes is when the body can no longer regulate its temperature and body temperature rises quickly, up to 106 degrees Fahrenheit or higher, within 10 to 15 minutes.
—
Yi-Jin Yu,
ABC News,
2 July 2026
Verb
Mihyia Davis stroked the next pitch off Slimp’s glove in left for a double and Williams moved to third.
—
Tim Willert,
Los Angeles Times,
1 June 2026
After a popout to second by first baseman Jordan Woolery, shortstop Aleena Garcia stroked an RBI single to give the Bruins a 2-1 lead.
—
Matt Murschel,
The Orlando Sentinel,
24 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for stroke
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stroke
Noun
-
Vingegaard’s victory at the Giro d’Italia in May, allied with Wout Van Aert’s cathartic win at Paris-Roubaix, has delivered two key objectives but the surprise departure of head of racing Grischa Niermann to Lidl-Trek was a blow.
-
Hers is a voice that ought to have a lifetime’s staying power, bolstered by a lyrical and musical sensibility that provide everything her instrument needs to deliver a happy succession of knockout blows.
Verb
-
After examining her injury, Brito began to caress and massage Patient 1’s foot under the guise of providing care.
-
Richer, more concentrated Prosecco with delectable flavors of nectarine tart and apricot preserves with intense minerality and delicate bubbles that caress the palate.
Verb
-
Begin by massaging skin with a hydrating moisturizer and primer.
-
Deirdre massaged my limbs while the cups went to work on my perpetually achy upper back.
Noun
-
On Tuesday, protesters were asked to bring diapers and write demands for Pradhan’s resignation on them – a satirical swipe at the government’s inability to stop exam leaks, Dipke said.
-
That is exactly what happened after Wilson Isidor took the breath away with a swipe of his right foot to send a ferocious, bending, goal-of-the-tournament contender past Yassine Bounou.
Verb
-
Been shooting some nice low scores in these last couple weeks outs here, so that’s something good to pat myself on the back.
-
One of his lawyers, Benjamin Zeman, patted the director's back.
Verb
-
From wedding-guest-worthy dresses to a $15 casual T-shirt dress, our top picks have loose cap sleeves, breezy bell sleeves perfect for the Southern heat, and puff sleeves for a touch of drama.
-
Featuring a delicate lace trim, a V-neckline, buttons up the front, and lightly puffed sleeves, this top is beyond gorgeous.
Noun
-
That next phase will focus on measuring the shockwaves generated by the X-59 in flight, along with evaluating the sonic thump impact on the ground.
-
Not long after, Jamison’s parents reported hearing a loud thump, as though someone had fallen, according to prosecutors.
Verb
-
The State Department on Tuesday congratulated conservative candidate Keiko Fujimori after she was declared the winner of Peru’s presidential runoff election by a razor-thin margin.
-
In 2010, on Respect for the Aged Day, Japanese officials sought out a Tokyo man named Sogen Kato to congratulate him on living to a hundred and eleven.
Cite this Entry
“Stroke.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stroke. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
