STRIKE Synonyms: 471 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

strike 1 of 2

verb

ˈstrīk

Definition of strike next

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

as in to affect

to act upon (a person or a person's feelings) so as to cause a response we were struck by the willingness of total strangers to go out of their way to help us

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as in to occur (to)

to enter the mind of it struck her later that no one at the bank had asked for identification

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as in to bump

to come into usually forceful contact with something the thump of hailstones striking the cars in the parking lot

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miss
skirt

as in to hit

to deliver a blow to (someone or something) usually in a strong vigorous manner the driver of the car behind me applied his brakes too late and struck my car from the rear

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as in to dismantle

to take apart the stagehands struck the sets the morning after the play closed

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as in to attack

to take sudden, violent action against a rattlesnake strikes its prey with lightning speed

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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

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bless

strike

2 of 2

noun

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

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as in attack

the act or action of setting upon with force or violence the first strike was directed at a munitions warehouse

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as in disadvantage

a feature of someone or something that creates difficulty for achieving success kids born into poverty already have a strike against them

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as in collision

a forceful coming together of two things the strike of a hammer against a nail always has a satisfying sound when you're building something yourself

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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 video's relatability struck a chord with pet owners, prompting a flood of comments, and amazingly there were plenty of pet owners willing to share their own improvisational leash moments. —

Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 7 Feb. 2025 Both films share an affinity for Rube Goldberg death traps and a creative grim reaper that can strike any moment. —

Madison Bloom, Pitchfork, 7 Feb. 2025

Noun

Since Donald Trump Returned To White House The big increases from 2023 are not surprising given that that year’s figure was severely impacted by the Hollywood strikes, which virtually halted production including on multiple big-budget co-pros for around six months. —

Max Goldbart, Deadline, 6 Feb. 2025 Now that the fact-finding report is public, CTU and the district have entered a 30-day cooling-off period, after which the union can issue a 10-day strike notice. —

Ikram Mohamed, Chicago Tribune, 6 Feb. 2025 See all Example Sentences for strike

Recent Examples of Synonyms for strike

Verb

The defensive midfielder, 36, last featured for Villarreal during the 2023-24 season and looks to have walked away from football by taking up a career in a whole other sport.

— Caoimhe O'Neill, The Athletic, 5 Feb. 2025
A couple walking by a footbridge above the highway was stunned by the macabre scene.

— Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 4 Feb. 2025