Strike
Strike noun - A feature of someone or something that creates difficulty for achieving success.
Usage example: kids born into poverty already have a strike against them
Upper hand is an antonym for strike.
Upper hand
Upper hand noun - The more favorable condition or position in a competition.
Usage example: finally gained the upper hand in the argument
Strike is an antonym for upper hand.
Both terms in one sentence
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Khan may have gotten a debilitating first strike when Kirk's adherence to protocol lapses, but once he's back on his game, Kirk has the upper hand for pretty much the rest of the movie.
Source: Soldier vs. Warrior -
They can serve a practical purpose too; switching forms in the middle of a fight will knock back adjacent enemies, giving the player a moment to strike back and gain the upper hand.
Source: Video Game / Primal - Decapitated Army: Fun fact: The Persians had the upper hand in Plataea, until General Mardonius fell in battle, causing the Persians to fall in disarray and giving the Greeks the chance to strike back.
Cite this Source
Upper hand and Strike. (2016). Retrieved 2026, July 21, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/strike/upper_hand
Strike & Upper hand. N.p., 2016. Web. 21 Jul. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/strike/upper_hand>.
Upper hand or Strike. 2016. Accessed July 21, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/strike/upper_hand.
Google Ngram Viewer shows how "strike" and "upper hand" have occurred on timeline