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
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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
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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
His shot was answered by Nikolas Khamenia, but Demary came down to the opposite corner and nailed one from there, too, to keep the deficit well within striking distance on the very next possession.
—
Joe Arruda, Hartford Courant, 30 Mar. 2026
With 10 seconds remaining, their defense forced a turnover, and the freshman phenom, Mulluns, nailed a three-pointer from the logo on the court.
—Matthew Couden, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Mar. 2026
This feels like the committee nailed it.
—Zach Harper, New York Times, 30 Mar. 2026
Within days, a Mustang GT got nailed at 85 decibels.
—Kim Komando The Kim Komando Show, FOXNews.com, 28 Mar. 2026
The Nuggets ended the game on a 21-5 run and a catharsis, as Jamal Murray nailed a dagger 3-pointer and played to the crowd that had jeered his team not long ago.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 28 Mar. 2026
Doncic nailed a step-back three from the top of the key, held his follow through and hopped backwards on one leg.
—Los Angeles Times, 26 Mar. 2026
Less than two minutes later, the second-year Celtic received a pass from Payton Pritchard, dodged around a Shai Gilgeous-Alexander closeout and nailed a 3-pointer that stretched his team’s lead to double digits.
—Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 26 Mar. 2026
Johnson nailed his three-run homer to right-center in the first and Rodriguez followed with a solo shot to give Batavia a 5-0 lead.
—Paul Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 26 Mar. 2026
Joe Arruda, Hartford Courant, 30 Mar. 2026
With 10 seconds remaining, their defense forced a turnover, and the freshman phenom, Mulluns, nailed a three-pointer from the logo on the court.
—Matthew Couden, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Mar. 2026
This feels like the committee nailed it.
—Zach Harper, New York Times, 30 Mar. 2026
Within days, a Mustang GT got nailed at 85 decibels.
—Kim Komando The Kim Komando Show, FOXNews.com, 28 Mar. 2026
The Nuggets ended the game on a 21-5 run and a catharsis, as Jamal Murray nailed a dagger 3-pointer and played to the crowd that had jeered his team not long ago.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 28 Mar. 2026
Doncic nailed a step-back three from the top of the key, held his follow through and hopped backwards on one leg.
—Los Angeles Times, 26 Mar. 2026
Less than two minutes later, the second-year Celtic received a pass from Payton Pritchard, dodged around a Shai Gilgeous-Alexander closeout and nailed a 3-pointer that stretched his team’s lead to double digits.
—Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 26 Mar. 2026
Johnson nailed his three-run homer to right-center in the first and Rodriguez followed with a solo shot to give Batavia a 5-0 lead.
—Paul Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 26 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nailed
Verb
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Crow-Armstrong had support from his team during Friday’s news conference, where first baseman Michael Busch, manager Craig Counsell, hitting coach Dustin Kelly, assistant hitting coach John Mallee and staff assistant AJ Lewis took in the scene.—
Meghan Montemurro,
Chicago Tribune,
28 Mar. 2026
-
Alcantara left the mound with a lead, courtesy of the bottom of Miami’s lineup stringing together hits in the second.—
Jordan McPherson,
Miami Herald,
28 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The other day, an observer decided to follow one of these parcels, chosen at random—a featherweight, toaster-size box from Sephora, addressed to 235 West Forty-eighth Street—and chart its journey.—
Henry Alford,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
-
The Nuggets decided to rule him out as a precautionary measure.—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
South Africa’s police chief was charged with corruption as part of a probe that has exposed the staggering graft problem in the continent’s biggest economy.—
Jeronimo Gonzalez,
semafor.com,
26 Mar. 2026
-
Coal prices are set globally, leaving importers exposed to swings and disruptions.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Aaron Alex, 26, of Dallas; Bronya Freeman, 24, of Dallas; and Jay Jones, 28, of Lancaster, were arrested March 22 after a five-month investigation, police said.—
Lillie Davidson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
29 Mar. 2026
-
Over the course of two weeks, two Laurel Highlands teachers were arrested after being accused of having inappropriate relationships with students.—
Ricky Sayer,
CBS News,
29 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The prosecutor said Abril confronted the couple, at which point James MacEgan was shot and killed, before Abril grabbed MacEgan’s wife and pulled her into the creek.—
Rosalio Ahumada,
Sacbee.com,
26 Mar. 2026
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Scheierman also hit two earlier threes, grabbed five rebounds and pestered Gilgeous-Alexander to force a third-quarter turnover to help Boston take down the defending NBA champions 119-109.—
Zack Cox,
Boston Herald,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
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When Zuccarello took a swipe with his stick and smacked McCarron in the leg, the big man responded with a Oscar-worthy acting job, feigning like he had been slashed on the wrist.—
Jess Myers,
Twin Cities,
20 Mar. 2026
-
Krogstad smacked two doubles and drove in three runs.—
Don Norcross,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
20 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The Massachusetts Crime Lab determined that the residue contained antifreeze.—
Rick Sobey,
Boston Herald,
31 Mar. 2026
-
The medical examiner determined Moore’s cause of death to be multiple gunshot wounds and the manner of death to be homicide.—
Kathryn Kovalenko,
Twin Cities,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
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What makes the case even more interesting is what investigators uncovered next.—
Stepheny Price,
FOXNews.com,
30 Mar. 2026
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Over the years, federal authorities have uncovered lucrative businesses that charge tens of thousands of dollars for birth tourism services.—
Juliana Kim,
NPR,
29 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Nailed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nailed. Accessed 31 Mar. 2026.
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