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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 Corbin then nailed his End of Days finishing maneuver on Williams and pinned him for the win. — Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 3 Aug. 2026 Gunther nailed Balor and Owens with a pair of big boots, then blasted Zayn with a vicious chop. — Blake Oestriecher, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2026 The wearer of the yellow jersey was nailed on for another win, this time in a bunch sprint instead of a reduced pack. — Jessica Hopkins, New York Times, 2 Aug. 2026 Only this past week, Charles took a swig and decided the master brewers, Tim and Shaun Wilson at East Rock, had nailed it. — Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 18 July 2026 The gambrel-roof’s shingles were pegged into roof beams rather than nailed, and the lath that held its plaster walls together was woven in place rather than nailed, according to an architectural survey of the county. — Mark Price july 17, Charlotte Observer, 17 July 2026 Red Schoendienst tried to steal a run for the NL after Stone was summoned in the eighth inning, but the pitcher’s throw to the plate nailed the runner for the third out. — Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 13 July 2026 Bath & Body Works, however, nailed it by tapping Hilary Duff as the face of its new Fruit Fusion collection. — Katie Decker-Jacoby, StyleCaster, 7 July 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for nailed

Verb

Musk pointed to each of the three business lines as part of the pillars of the company that will fuel what would have to be 10x growth in three or four years to hit his $1 trillion revenue projection.

— Amanda Gerut, Fortune, 5 Aug. 2026
Additionally, Alvarez’s chances to hit a home run will get a pick-me-up from playing at home.

— Josh Shepardson, Forbes.com, 5 Aug. 2026

Definition of hit

Verb

Their brain has already decided where the answer is most likely to be, and everything outside that expectation receives very little attention.

— Dr. Diane Hamilton, Forbes.com, 3 Aug. 2026
Bardstown Bourbon Company, which is well known for indulging its experimental impulses, decided to blend together bourbon and rye and finish it in pineapple rum barrels with pieces of pineapple added to the whiskey for good measure.

— Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 2 Aug. 2026

Definition of decided

Verb

That has aligned the region with the United States — and exposed their AI assets to Iranian attacks, noted Helima Croft, head of global strategy at RBC Capital Markets.

— David Goldman, CNN Money, 3 Aug. 2026
Across France and Spain, megafires have scorched vast forests, displaced more than 300,000 people and exposed how a warming Europe is turning summer wildfire seasons into continent-wide emergencies.

— Elena Becatoros, Los Angeles Times, 2 Aug. 2026

Definition of exposed

Verb

Two people were arrested — an electrical engineer responsible for designing and overseeing the power project, and a contractor involved in constructing the electricity transmission network.

— ABC News, ABC News, 3 Aug. 2026
Martin was then immediately handcuffed and arrested as the little girl’s cries were heard from inside the car.

— Desiree Anello, PEOPLE, 2 Aug. 2026

Definition of arrested

Verb

The Tampa Bay Rays third baseman smacked a 463-foot whopper late last month.

— Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 13 July 2026
Almost two years ago, China’s east coast was smacked by one of the strongest storms in decades, which temporarily halted container operations at both Shanghai and Ningbo ports.

— Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 8 July 2026

Definition of smacked

Verb

Investigators said that all the teens knew one another but have not yet determined a motive for the killings, according to DeLand Police Chief Jason Umberger.

— Silas Morgan, The Orlando Sentinel, 7 Aug. 2026
The Bankruptcy Court noted that the bankruptcy statutes do not define who is a beneficiary and that the issue would be determined by Arizona state law.

— Jay Adkisson, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026

Definition of determined

Verb

The spa Separated from the main hotel, this historic spa showcases the centuries-old frescoes that were uncovered during the renovation.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 Aug. 2026
The massive wildfire outside the southwestern city of Bordeaux, which has scorched about 420 square kilometers (162 square miles), uncovered what is believed to be World War II-era ammunition.

— ABC News, ABC News, 4 Aug. 2026