with a (single) stroke of a/the/his/her pen
idiom
: by a single act of moving a pen when it is being used to write or sign something
—used figuratively
The President has the power to end this policy with a (single) stroke of a/the/his pen.
Examples of with a (single) stroke of a/the/his/her pen in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
That can just be brushed aside literally with a stroke of a pen.
—
Leah Feiger, WIRED, 6 Dec. 2024
All these things that President Biden did with the stroke of a pen, Trump can undo with a stroke of a pen, immediately.
—NBC News, 1 Dec. 2024
Biden should recognize Palestine the same way President Harry Truman recognized the state of Israel in 1948, just 11 minutes after the nation’s self-creation: with a stroke of the pen.
—Jonah Blank, Foreign Affairs, 27 Nov. 2024
The European Union has the power to eliminate the smuggling economy with a stroke of a pen.
—Dimi Reider, Foreign Affairs, 16 Sep. 2015
Slashing through thousands of pages of red tape with a stroke of his pen, Shapiro focused solely on rebuilding as fast as possible and refused to let interest group politics or bureaucratic inertia slow things down.
—Lindsay Lewis, The Mercury News, 24 May 2024
The book involves more diagnosis and lamentation than prescriptions, since Yavlinsky is fully aware that moral behavior cannot be built, or rebuilt, with a stroke of the pen.
—Richard N. Cooper, Foreign Affairs, 1 Jan. 2012
But these orders are vulnerable to legal challenge, and when the presidency shifts to the other party, the incoming president can sweep them away with a stroke of his pen.
—William A. Galston, WSJ, 26 July 2022
The Biden administration can reverse some of those actions quickly – for instance, as president, Joe Biden can undo Donald Trump’s executive orders with a stroke of the pen.
—Daniel Farber, The Conversation, 18 Jan. 2021
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.
Leah Feiger, WIRED, 6 Dec. 2024
All these things that President Biden did with the stroke of a pen, Trump can undo with a stroke of a pen, immediately.
—NBC News, 1 Dec. 2024
Biden should recognize Palestine the same way President Harry Truman recognized the state of Israel in 1948, just 11 minutes after the nation’s self-creation: with a stroke of the pen.
—Jonah Blank, Foreign Affairs, 27 Nov. 2024
The European Union has the power to eliminate the smuggling economy with a stroke of a pen.
—Dimi Reider, Foreign Affairs, 16 Sep. 2015
Slashing through thousands of pages of red tape with a stroke of his pen, Shapiro focused solely on rebuilding as fast as possible and refused to let interest group politics or bureaucratic inertia slow things down.
—Lindsay Lewis, The Mercury News, 24 May 2024
The book involves more diagnosis and lamentation than prescriptions, since Yavlinsky is fully aware that moral behavior cannot be built, or rebuilt, with a stroke of the pen.
—Richard N. Cooper, Foreign Affairs, 1 Jan. 2012
But these orders are vulnerable to legal challenge, and when the presidency shifts to the other party, the incoming president can sweep them away with a stroke of his pen.
—William A. Galston, WSJ, 26 July 2022
The Biden administration can reverse some of those actions quickly – for instance, as president, Joe Biden can undo Donald Trump’s executive orders with a stroke of the pen.
—Daniel Farber, The Conversation, 18 Jan. 2021
Dictionary Entries Near with a (single) stroke of a/the/his/her pen
Cite this Entry
“With a (single) stroke of a/the/his/her pen.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/with%20a%20%28single%29%20stroke%20of%20a%2Fthe%2Fhis%2Fher%20pen. Accessed 30 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share