All Definitions for Stroke
Below are all the dictionary definitions of stroke:
1An act of hitting
2A blow, a hit.
3An act of striking with a weapon
4A blow.
5A single movement with a tool
6Also, an impact of a tool on an object.
7The hitting of a bell or similar by the clapper or hammer of a clock
8The sound thereof
9The time when this occurs.
10An act of hitting or trying to hit a ball
11Also, the manner in which this is done.
12The action of hitting the ball with the bat
13A shot.
14A single act of striking at the ball with a club
15Also, at matchplay, a shot deducted from a player's score at a hole as a result of a handicapping system.
16A point awarded to a player in case of interference or obstruction by the opponent.
17The hitting of a ball with a racket
18Also, the movement of the racket and arm that produces that impact.
19A movement similar to that of hitting.
20One of a series of beats or movements against a resisting medium, by means of which movement through or upon it is accomplished.
21The movement of an oar or paddle through water: either the cycle of movement as a whole, or the propelling phase (as opposed to the return)
22The manner in which such movements are made
23A rowing style.
24(by extension) The rower nearest the stern of the boat, the movement of whose oar sets the rhythm for the other rowers
25The position in the boat occupied by this rower.
26A movement of the arms and legs which propels a swimmer through the water
27A specific combination of such movements, constituting a swimming style.
28A beat or throb, as of the heart or pulse.
29A single movement or thrust of a reciprocating device (such as a piston or connecting rod)
30The length of this movement.
31A thrust of the penis during sexual intercourse.
32An act causing hurt or death, especially when seen as divine punishment.
33A damaging occurrence, especially if sudden
34A blow, a calamity.
35An amount of work
36Specifically, a large amount of business or work.
37A powerful or sudden effort by which something is done or produced
38Also, something accomplished by such an effort
39An achievement, a feat.
40A single movement of a paintbrush, chisel, pen, pencil, or similar implement
41A line or mark made by such an implement.
42(linguistics, calligraphy, typography) A line making up a written character.
43(typography) (computing) In Unicode: the formal name of the individual horizontal strikethroughs (as in "A̶").
44(typography) (UK, Ireland, Commonwealth) The oblique, slash, or virgule ("/").
45A distinctive expression in a written composition
46A touch.
47(professional wrestling) Backstage influence.
48(turn-based games) A masterful or effective action.
49A sudden interruption of blood supply to the brain, causing minor to major brain damage and possible death.
50An individual discharge of lightning, particularly if causing damage.
51An individual social interaction whereby one gives another attention or recognition.
52To draw the horizontal line across the upright part (of the letter t).
53Followed by out or through: to draw a line or lines through (text) to indicate that it is deleted
54To cancel, to strike or strike out.
55(ball games) To hit or kick (the ball) with a flowing or smooth motion
56Also, to score (a goal, a point, etc.) by doing so.
57(rowing) Of a rower or a crew: to row at (a rate of a certain number of strokes (“movements of the oar through water”) per minute).
58(rowing) To act as the stroke (“rower who is nearest the stern of the boat, the movement of whose oar sets the rowing rhythm for the other rowers”) of (a boat or its crew).
59(swimming) To strike (the water) with one's arms and legs when swimming.
60(medicine) Chiefly followed by out: to suffer loss of brain function when the blood supply to the brain is suddenly interrupted
61To have a stroke (noun sense 4).
62(swimming) To swim by making co-ordinated movements with the arms and legs.
63To move one's hand or an object (such as a broom or brush) along (a surface) in one direction, touching it lightly
64To caress.
65To masturbate.
66To bring (something) to a certain condition by stroking (sense 1).
67(especially psychoanalysis) To give assurance to (someone) through encouragement.
68(by extension, chiefly US, politics) To influence (someone) by convincing or flattering them.
69To milk (a cow or other animal)
70Especially, to squeeze the teat of (a cow, etc.) to extract the last bit of milk from the udder
71To strap (dialectal), to strip.
72To give a finely fluted surface to (stone) by carving it with a tool.
73An act of moving one's hand or an object along a surface in one direction, touching it lightly
74A caress.
75A gesture of assurance given as encouragement
76Specifically (psychoanalysis) in transactional analysis: a (generally positive) reaction expressed to a person which fulfils their desires or needs.
77(chiefly US) A flattering or friendly act, comment, etc., done or made to a person to influence them.
78(chiefly archaic) Influence
79Power.
80The effect or result of a striking
81Affliction or injury
82A bruise or wound
83Soreness.
84Chiefly in to have a good stroke: appetite.
85(medicine) A sudden attack of any illness, especially if causing loss of consciousness or movement, or when fatal.
86(music) A bow or pluck of a string or strings of a stringed instrument
87Also, the manner in which a musical instrument is played
88Hence, a melody, a tune.
89(poetic, rare) Of a bell or clock: to chime or sound to indicate (the hour, the time, etc.).
90(rare) To mark (something) with lines or stripes
91To stripe.
92(obsolete) To depict (something) with a paintbrush.
93To sharpen (a knife or other cutting instrument) by honing or rubbing it against a surface.
94(figuratively) To soothe (someone)
95Also, to flatter or indulge (someone).
About synonyms for stroke
Finding the right synonym for stroke helps writers avoid repetition and add precision to their work. Defined as "An act of hitting", stroke has 4 alternatives that can fit different contexts and tones.
Each synonym carries a slightly different shade of meaning. Stroking is the most direct replacement in most situations. Shot works well in formal or professional contexts. Cva is often preferred when the context calls for a more specific or nuanced expression.
When choosing a synonym, consider the connotation, formality level, and audience. Some alternatives work better in casual conversation while others shine in academic or professional writing. For example, using a more formal synonym in a business email can elevate your tone, while a casual synonym might feel more natural in creative writing or dialogue.
It is also worth noting that not all synonyms are perfectly interchangeable. The context of your sentence, the surrounding words, and the intended emotional impact all play a role in selecting the best alternative. The list above provides the most common and useful replacements for stroke, but always read your sentence aloud to ensure the chosen word flows naturally.