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
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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
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Recent Examples of stroke
Kat McGowan, NPR, 1 Apr. 2025
Chamberlain died of complications following a stroke, according to his publicist, Harlan Boll.
—Joseph Wilkinson, New York Daily News, 31 Mar. 2025
Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 17 Mar. 2025
Winner: Photoshop Text, Shapes, Drawing, and 3D Photoshop’s text capabilities are deep, with options like glow, stroking, and even glyph editing (changing parts of characters).
—PCMAG, 2 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for stroke
Noun
That July, right before Cruz's parents moved to her neighborhood in South Carolina to be near her, her mom also had a stroke.
—Kat McGowan, NPR, 1 Apr. 2025
Chamberlain died of complications following a stroke, according to his publicist, Harlan Boll.
—Joseph Wilkinson, New York Daily News, 31 Mar. 2025
Verb
Golfers use these metal clubs for stroking the ball into the hole.
—Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 17 Mar. 2025
Winner: Photoshop Text, Shapes, Drawing, and 3D Photoshop’s text capabilities are deep, with options like glow, stroking, and even glyph editing (changing parts of characters).
—PCMAG, 2 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for stroke
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stroke
Noun
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That’s a major blow to both sales and long-term customer loyalty.—
Samuel Mueller,
Forbes.com,
4 Apr. 2025
-
Image Other economists also said the blow to the labor market, which had cooled before Mr. Trump embarked on his global trade war, could be severe.—
Tony Romm,
New York Times,
4 Apr. 2025
Verb
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With her usual mastery of dynamics, Laferte starts out sweetly caressing each phrase.—
Jon Pareles,
New York Times,
28 Mar. 2025
-
Breaths that came as strong as fingers caressed me, travelling the length of me, beginning to tease and probe.—
Hazlitt,
Hazlitt,
12 Mar. 2025
Verb
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The brand recommends massaging this tool into the skin a couple of times a week to calm inflammation and soften fine lines.—
Annie Blackman,
Allure,
3 Apr. 2025
-
Use your fingers to massage the zest into the sugar to bring out the oils in the lemon zest.—
Sarah Martens,
Better Homes & Gardens,
31 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
Weekend Update continued the roast, following a swipe during the Cold Open, as co-host Colin Jost addressed President Donald Trump‘s recent tariffs.—
Natalie Oganesyan,
Deadline,
5 Apr. 2025
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Photo: Getty Images The rest of Jennie’s glam was kept minimal too—her signature glass skin with a hint of rosy blush to be more of an all-over flush, and a swipe of black eyeliner.—
Anna Cafolla,
Vogue,
30 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Remove 2 cups of the shrimp mixture from bag; drain and pat dry.—
Liz Mervosh,
Southern Living,
26 Mar. 2025
-
But that’s too pat a way of describing something so slippery and alive.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
14 Mar. 2025
Verb
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On top of her shoulders, the garment was puffed, adding height and dimension to her look.—
Angel Saunders,
People.com,
4 Apr. 2025
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The pivotal early locomotive—a travelling steam engine rather than one fixed to the ground—puffed through the Stockton and Darlington Railway’s Georgian landscape.—
Carlton Reid,
Forbes.com,
3 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Rami Sinno is crouched beside a filing cabinet, wrestling a beach-ball sized disc out of a box, when a dull thump echoes around his laboratory.—
Billy Perrigo,
Time,
2 Apr. 2025
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Then the silence was broken by the loud thump of Olive’s .38/40.—
Horace R. Hinkley,
Outdoor Life,
19 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Residents Dan Lee was among those who congratulated House as well as village clerk and trustee candidates who ran on the Clean House slate.—
Mike Nolan,
Chicago Tribune,
8 Apr. 2025
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After the 49ers won the AFC Championship against the Detroit Lions in January 2024, Mindy congratulated her husband in an Instagram reel that featured a montage of herself and their kids on the field.—
Emily Krauser,
People.com,
8 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Stroke.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stroke. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.
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