1
as in to hit
to deliver a blow to (someone or something) usually in a strong vigorous manner
the boxer nailed his opponent with a devastating left hook
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in to decide
to make final, definite, or beyond dispute
this latest infidelity nails it—I'm filing for divorce
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to expose
to reveal the true nature of
an investigative report that nailed the teenage novelist as someone who had plagiarized the works of others
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in to arrest
to take or keep under one's control by authority of law
the very first time I tried to steal anything, I got nailed
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in to grab
to take physical control or possession of (something) suddenly or forcibly
the running back saw the pass coming in and nailed it
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of nail
That likely puts pressure on the Dolphins to nail the pick in the upcoming 2026 NFL Draft, especially with a first-year starter in Malik Willis at quarterback.
—
Miami Herald, 11 Apr. 2026
Match your pressure and nozzle to the surface, nail the direction and angle and take your time around vulnerable spots.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Charlotte Observer, 9 Apr. 2026
Luckily, Quince has nailed the simple yet stylish vibe that rules the season, with hundreds of warm-weather essentials finally back in stock.
—Tanya Sharma, PEOPLE, 9 Apr. 2026
Capable of nailing the extraordinary, but messing up the mundane.
—Nick Miller, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for nail
Miami Herald, 11 Apr. 2026
Match your pressure and nozzle to the surface, nail the direction and angle and take your time around vulnerable spots.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Charlotte Observer, 9 Apr. 2026
Luckily, Quince has nailed the simple yet stylish vibe that rules the season, with hundreds of warm-weather essentials finally back in stock.
—Tanya Sharma, PEOPLE, 9 Apr. 2026
Capable of nailing the extraordinary, but messing up the mundane.
—Nick Miller, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for nail
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nail
Verb
-
The Devil Wears Prada 2 is expected to hit theaters on May 1.—
Joyann Jeffrey,
PEOPLE,
11 Apr. 2026
-
But Edwards hit a 3-pointer a few seconds later to push the lead to 135-128 and send the home fans streaming toward the exits.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
11 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Chicago has a 13-32 record in games decided by at least 10 points.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
11 Apr. 2026
-
What Santa Clara County decides in the coming months will not stay within our borders.—
Maria Noel Fernandez,
Mercury News,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
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With threats to expose social security numbers, dates of birth, family information, grades, and even confidential medical information, the breach cornered PowerSchool into paying millions of dollars in ransom.—
Mike Levine,
ABC News,
14 Apr. 2026
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People who believe that they may have been exposed to the disease should call the County Tuberculosis Control Program at (619) 692-8621 for guidance.—
Ingrid Vasquez,
PEOPLE,
14 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Officers arrived shortly after and tried to arrest him, but the suspect sped away, with the convertible's roof partially up, nearly losing control of the car after driving over a sidewalk.—
Matthew Rodriguez,
CBS News,
17 Apr. 2026
-
Roberts-Smith, 47, was arrested on April 7 and charged with five counts of war crime murder involving the deaths of five Afghans in Uruzgan province in 2009 and 2012.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
17 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Cynthia proceeds to call Porsha, and Angela grabs the phone, executing an amazing assist like her baller husband, and forces Porsha to speak directly to Kelli.—
Ile-Ife Okantah,
Vulture,
13 Apr. 2026
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As soon as the door opens, Sadie jumps up to greet Koch before darting off to grab a toy, bounding back toward Koch with her tail still wagging.—
Shafiq Najib,
ABC News,
13 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Residents who had previously circulated petitions against the data center pivoted to door-knocking for the candidates, collaborating on campaign videos, encouraging their neighbors to show up to vote and even driving each other to the polls.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
14 Apr. 2026
-
Roberts was on the ninth of his 10 reps when the medicine ball knocked the exhaust vent off the wall behind him in the hallway outside the visiting clubhouse’s weight room.—
Meghan Montemurro,
Chicago Tribune,
14 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The group also may simulate visits during these evaluations, to determine how the dogs and handlers deal with certain situations.—
Mikayla Bunnell,
Hartford Courant,
11 Apr. 2026
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Only the first four picks of the draft are determined by the lottery drawing, with the rest of the first round determined by inverse order of record.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
11 Apr. 2026
Verb
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What investigators uncovered was a complex attack involving blockchain infrastructure, malware that functions across various platforms, and thousands of software developers and the companies that hire them.—
Jessica Klein,
PC Magazine,
11 Apr. 2026
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Reporting from Colorado News 9 in 2025 uncovered that Flock Safety had operated a pilot program that allowed federal agencies, such as Customs and Border Protection, to send invites to local law enforcement agencies.—
Tanya Babbar,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
11 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Nail.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nail. Accessed 18 Apr. 2026.
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