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
The rooms The 219 rooms including 40 suites perfectly nail that balance of minimalism and luxury without seeming spare, or overly precious.
—
Todd Plummer, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Jan. 2026
At the end of the alley, nailed to a concrete wall, were a measuring stick, the water having clearly surpassed its previous peak of seven feet not long ago, and a shrine to the Virgin Mary.
—Sean Williams, Harpers Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
The Bulls called a timeout and worked the ball to Huerter, who nailed a 3 from the corner with less than a second remaining.
—CBS News, 25 Jan. 2026
Deutch nails every joke in this slapstick comedy that keeps the out-of-pocket zingers coming nonstop, complimented perfectly by her crew of Yellow Brick Road (Hollywood Boulevard) nomads.
—Glenn Garner, Deadline, 25 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for nail
Todd Plummer, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Jan. 2026
At the end of the alley, nailed to a concrete wall, were a measuring stick, the water having clearly surpassed its previous peak of seven feet not long ago, and a shrine to the Virgin Mary.
—Sean Williams, Harpers Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
The Bulls called a timeout and worked the ball to Huerter, who nailed a 3 from the corner with less than a second remaining.
—CBS News, 25 Jan. 2026
Deutch nails every joke in this slapstick comedy that keeps the out-of-pocket zingers coming nonstop, complimented perfectly by her crew of Yellow Brick Road (Hollywood Boulevard) nomads.
—Glenn Garner, Deadline, 25 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for nail
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nail
Verb
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Journalist Don Lemon was released from custody Friday after he was arrested and hit with federal civil rights charges over his coverage of an anti-immigration enforcement protest that disrupted a service at a Minnesota church.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
31 Jan. 2026
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But of all the spaghetti that got thrown at the wall, this is the one that hits for reasons that are totally orthogonal to politics and sort of Washington.—
Ben Smith,
semafor.com,
31 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Most recently, in 1995, voters there only narrowly decided to remain.—
Lex Harvey,
CNN Money,
30 Jan. 2026
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Her parents pay for her apartment in a Brooklyn brownstone, and her biggest inconvenience seems to be that her sister has decided to live there, too — in the spare bedroom that’s not even in use.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Dell is finally good at something—but as her behavior becomes riskier and a shadowy troll threatens to expose her dark past, Dell must reckon with what her digital life ignores, and what real redemption means.—
Danielle Parker,
CBS News,
27 Jan. 2026
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Such vague commands, the court said, leave agents guessing how to respond during fast-moving protest situations and expose them to possible contempt sanctions.—
Kaelan Deese,
The Washington Examiner,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Dozens of asylum seekers like her, as well as refugees who passed a rigorous, years-long vetting process before being admitted to the United States, have been arrested in Minnesota in recent weeks, immigration lawyers and advocates say.—
Ray Sanchez,
CNN Money,
30 Jan. 2026
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The Texas Department of Public Safety said in a statement that officers arrested two people and used pepper balls after protesters did not heed orders to disperse, adding that demonstrators also breached a protest area and spit on officers.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The bottom-line mandate for the Bruins on Monday night was to grab two points against the worst team in the Eastern Conference.—
Steve Conroy,
Boston Herald,
27 Jan. 2026
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On January 13, in a win over the Chicago Bulls, Davison played 24 minutes, scoring 9 points, grabbing 7 rebounds, and dishing out 4 assists.—
Rahat Huq,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Three weeks after the beating, the FBI tracked Fakroune to an apartment in New York and knocked on the door.—
Jason Meisner,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Jan. 2026
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Production may dip slightly in winter, but South Florida’s short stretches of sweatshirt weather aren’t enough to knock populations back significantly.—
Ashley Miznazi,
Miami Herald,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Once on scene, deputies quickly determined the animal was injured.—
Sophia Compton,
FOXNews.com,
1 Feb. 2026
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Transportation will determine whether White Stadium functions as a community asset or becomes a recurring source of congestion, neighborhood disruption, and political backlash.—
Ed Gaskin,
Boston Herald,
31 Jan. 2026
Verb
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How a researcher uncovered the flaws Security researcher Eaton Zveare discovered the vulnerabilities in October while examining the website of a Bluspark customer.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
31 Jan. 2026
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As online reviews turn vicious and everyone from staff to local collaborators falls under suspicion, Orsa must uncover the saboteur before the evening—and her pristine reputation—crumbles.—
Kait Hanson,
Southern Living,
31 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Nail.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nail. Accessed 3 Feb. 2026.
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