1
as in 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 decided
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 exposed
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 arrested
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 grabbed
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 nailed
Reigns then nailed Punk with the stairs and continued to talk trash to the camera.
—
Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 20 Apr. 2026
Her skin is now nailed to the ceiling of the refuge office.
—Bill Kearney, Sun Sentinel, 19 Apr. 2026
Paton has nailed the second round.
—Troy Renck, Denver Post, 18 Apr. 2026
As seen in a video that Courtney shared on Instagram, Mark nailed the assignment.
—Erin Clack, PEOPLE, 16 Apr. 2026
Ouch Then again, with the possibility that someone on Hegseth’s staff is actually gaslighting him, former NBC News reporter Chuck Todd may have nailed it and Hegseth best.
—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 16 Apr. 2026
Emma Roberts quietly nailed the lingerie trend while attending Revolve Festival in Indio, California on April 11.
—Chanel Vargas, InStyle, 12 Apr. 2026
When Cadeau nailed their first 3-pointer in 12 attempts seven minutes into the half, Michigan suddenly had an 11-point lead and was in control for the first time.
—Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 7 Apr. 2026
Immediately after Heckel’s make, Quinonez nailed a 3-pointer of her own, and Fudd finally got one of her signature deep shots to drop after starting 0-for-4.
—Emily Adams, Hartford Courant, 4 Apr. 2026
Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 20 Apr. 2026
Her skin is now nailed to the ceiling of the refuge office.
—Bill Kearney, Sun Sentinel, 19 Apr. 2026
Paton has nailed the second round.
—Troy Renck, Denver Post, 18 Apr. 2026
As seen in a video that Courtney shared on Instagram, Mark nailed the assignment.
—Erin Clack, PEOPLE, 16 Apr. 2026
Ouch Then again, with the possibility that someone on Hegseth’s staff is actually gaslighting him, former NBC News reporter Chuck Todd may have nailed it and Hegseth best.
—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 16 Apr. 2026
Emma Roberts quietly nailed the lingerie trend while attending Revolve Festival in Indio, California on April 11.
—Chanel Vargas, InStyle, 12 Apr. 2026
When Cadeau nailed their first 3-pointer in 12 attempts seven minutes into the half, Michigan suddenly had an 11-point lead and was in control for the first time.
—Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 7 Apr. 2026
Immediately after Heckel’s make, Quinonez nailed a 3-pointer of her own, and Fudd finally got one of her signature deep shots to drop after starting 0-for-4.
—Emily Adams, Hartford Courant, 4 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nailed
Verb
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Available in both regular and petite lengths, the pants with a shorter inseam are ideal for my 5-foot-2 frame, hitting right at my ankle and pairing well with sneakers, sandals, or a short heel, depending on the occasion.—
Rachel Trujillo,
PEOPLE,
18 Apr. 2026
-
The Alexandria Real Estate Tech Center, a 47-acre, 14-building campus in Sorrento Mesa, also hit 100% occupancy.—
Noelle Harff,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
18 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
In one version of the script, Alonzo managed to escape, but Washington and Fuqua decided against it.—
Kelefa Sanneh,
New Yorker,
20 Apr. 2026
-
Tampa Bay has lost 12 of its last 13 playoff games decided in overtime going back to Game 5 of the 2020 Stanley Cup Final.—
Eduardo Encina,
The Orlando Sentinel,
20 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The control group of fish ended up about 12 miles from the release point after two months; the fish exposed to cocaine traveled farther, and the fish exposed to benzoylecgonine ended up close to 20 miles from the release point.—
Moná Thomas,
PEOPLE,
22 Apr. 2026
-
Levels of particle pollution showed some improvement, but groups exposed to high levels of this pollution faced much higher levels than in the past.—
Jen Christensen,
CNN Money,
22 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
He gets arrested for shoplifting.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
12 Apr. 2026
-
The Riverside County Sheriff's Office arrested two teens for allegedly killing a 16-year-old last year.—
Matthew Rodriguez,
CBS News,
12 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Stephens and her daughter had gone to bed when Knight grabbed knives from the kitchen, walked into their bedroom and attacked the woman as her daughter lay next to her.—
Landon Mion,
FOXNews.com,
23 Apr. 2026
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The witness said a woman believed to be a store employee grabbed at a backpack carried by one of the men, prompting that man to throw a punch at her.—
Robert Salonga,
Mercury News,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Near mile marker 161, about six miles from the summit, the 2020 Freightliner smacked the barrier wall on the right side of the road.—
Logan Smith,
CBS News,
17 Apr. 2026
-
Singh raised his second straight half-century off just 23 balls with eight fours and a six while Iyer brought up his fifty of 31 balls and smacked Thakur four two consecutive sixes before perishing when Dhir took a stunning catch at deep mid-wicket.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The mayor is also planning to retain the same number of firefighters, holding off on any expansion of the Los Angeles Fire Department at least until November, after voters have determined the fate of a sales tax hike to pay for the department’s operations, her team said.—
David Zahniser,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Apr. 2026
-
One student was determined to get high-fives from a reporter, and students gossiped about gaining fame in the local paper.—
Joseph States,
Chicago Tribune,
20 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Those messages were uncovered as part of a broader investigation of Chavez-DeRamer’s leadership that began after the New York Post reported in January that a complaint filed with the Labor Department’s inspector general accused Chavez-DeRemer of a relationship with the subordinate.—
Seung Min Kim,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Apr. 2026
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The only way out is 24 hours of total honesty, no matter what truths are uncovered.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
20 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Nailed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nailed. Accessed 24 Apr. 2026.
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