NAILED Synonyms: 252 Similar and Opposite Words

nailed

verb

past tense of nail

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

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Relevance

as in decided

to make final, definite, or beyond dispute this latest infidelity nails it—I'm filing for divorce

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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

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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

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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

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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 nailed In the second half, Patriots kicker Andy Borregales nailed a 23-yard field goal to give New England a three-point lead. —

Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 26 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 Orton entered the ring and nailed Pritest with a power slam before hitting another on Zayn. —

Blake Oestriecher, Forbes.com, 25 Jan. 2026 The senior then nailed a three-point shot, his only make from behind the arc in the game, to give the Hogs an 84-79 lead with 49 seconds remaining. —

Tom Murphy, Arkansas Online, 25 Jan. 2026 Peyton Watson’s week — A-minus Come to think of it, if there was ever a stat line that summed up Watson’s ceiling, at least from a production standpoint, Thursday might have pretty well nailed it. —

Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 24 Jan. 2026 Villanova began overtime with a 3-pointer from Perkins but didn’t make another shot from the field in the extra period as Ball nailed his fifth triple, Karaban came through at the foul line and Demary put on the finishing touches with a layup to go up four with 47 seconds to play. —

Joe Arruda, Hartford Courant, 24 Jan. 2026 My two favorites—Mountain Hardwear’s Kor Airshell Jacket ($190) and the Arc’teryx Proton Hoody ($350)—have nailed the formula. —

Benjamin Tepler, Outside, 23 Jan. 2026 But Berry nailed the draft with a defensive tackle, linebacker, tight end and running back. —

Jason Lloyd, New York Times, 6 Jan. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for nailed

Verb

Citing preliminary information, police said the driver turned north from Bovet Road onto South El Camino and hit the pedestrian in the north crosswalk of South El Camino Real at 17th Avenue.

— Jason Green, Mercury News, 24 Jan. 2026
The Torreys hit just one of eight shots in the quarter and committed five turnovers, most of them against Parker’s full-court press.

— Don Norcross, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Jan. 2026