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
In a video shared to her Instagram Stories, Simone and her sister Adria were seen jumping up and down and screaming after Bears kicker Jake Moody nailed a field goal as time expired.
—
Anna Lazarus Caplan, PEOPLE, 14 Oct. 2025
Moody, with three seconds left and a steady mist coming down, nailed a 38-yard field goal to give the Bears the 25-24 win.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 14 Oct. 2025
Butker was true on his next three extra points and nailed a 33-yard field goal in the final minutes.
—Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 13 Oct. 2025
When Renée Zellweger nailed Bridget Jones, critics marveled that a Texan could pass for London.
—Remy Blumenfeld, HollywoodReporter, 13 Oct. 2025
The 285 shots he’s nailed beyond the 3-point arc are the second-most in NBA history, leaving him behind Duncan Robinson’s top mark of 326.
—Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 12 Oct. 2025
The pantry is stacked with corroding tins and stoneware jugs nailed into position with wooden dowels.
—Literary Hub, 10 Oct. 2025
That balance is hard to pull off, and Jimmy Choo nailed it here.
—Kimberly Wilson, Essence, 10 Oct. 2025
Washington tacked on points a few moments later when Matt Gay nailed a 29-yard field goal to tie the game, 10-10, before halftime.
—Nicki Jhabvala, New York Times, 7 Oct. 2025
Anna Lazarus Caplan, PEOPLE, 14 Oct. 2025
Moody, with three seconds left and a steady mist coming down, nailed a 38-yard field goal to give the Bears the 25-24 win.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 14 Oct. 2025
Butker was true on his next three extra points and nailed a 33-yard field goal in the final minutes.
—Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 13 Oct. 2025
When Renée Zellweger nailed Bridget Jones, critics marveled that a Texan could pass for London.
—Remy Blumenfeld, HollywoodReporter, 13 Oct. 2025
The 285 shots he’s nailed beyond the 3-point arc are the second-most in NBA history, leaving him behind Duncan Robinson’s top mark of 326.
—Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 12 Oct. 2025
The pantry is stacked with corroding tins and stoneware jugs nailed into position with wooden dowels.
—Literary Hub, 10 Oct. 2025
That balance is hard to pull off, and Jimmy Choo nailed it here.
—Kimberly Wilson, Essence, 10 Oct. 2025
Washington tacked on points a few moments later when Matt Gay nailed a 29-yard field goal to tie the game, 10-10, before halftime.
—Nicki Jhabvala, New York Times, 7 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nailed
Verb
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Snell faced the minimum while allowing one hit and striking out a postseason career-high 10 batters.—
Andy McCullough,
New York Times,
14 Oct. 2025
-
Tire tread depth - Checking your tire tread before hitting the road is important, as low or no tread can lead to sliding.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
13 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Yadeguri eventually had a change of heart about college, and decided to apply.—
Jessica Coacci,
Fortune,
12 Oct. 2025
-
The annual hand-wringing around whether New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone should be fired is already under way, but that won’t be decided for weeks as the club’s management takes a breath and grieves the club’s latest playoff exit.—
Barry M. Bloom,
Sportico.com,
12 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The report also calculated the amount of PFNA that people could be exposed to without being harmed — a critical measurement that can be used to set limits for cleaning up PFNA contamination in Superfund sites and for removing the chemical from drinking water.—
Sharon Lerner,
ProPublica,
10 Oct. 2025
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Eastern Radiologist settled a class action lawsuit on behalf of nearly 890,000 people who were allegedly impacted by a cyberattack that exposed their personal and medical information.—
Lauren Giella,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Five days later she and Troy were arrested along with William Merritt, Troy’s friend who accompanied him and was later convicted as an accessory.—
Johnny Dodd,
PEOPLE,
10 Oct. 2025
-
Federal investigators say a Florida man has been arrested in connection with one of the most destructive wildfires in California history, a blaze that began as a New Year’s spark that charred some 7,000 structures and killed 12 people.—
Sarah Rumpf-Whitten,
FOXNews.com,
10 Oct. 2025
Verb
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However, she was momentarily stopped when one concert goer grabbed her, violently yanking her backwards and into the barricade.—
Rachel McRady,
PEOPLE,
10 Oct. 2025
-
The Bruins grabbed four points with back-to-back wins over the Blackhawks and Washington Capitals.—
Fluto Shinzawa,
New York Times,
10 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Until Walter [Platz] smacked me in the head.—
Breanne L. Heldman,
PEOPLE,
11 Oct. 2025
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The back half of the New York Film Festival delivered a secret screening of a solid Academy Award contender, the box office smacked down a Venice Film Festival award winner, and two major contenders in the acting fields up and switched their categories.—
Joe Reid,
Vulture,
10 Oct. 2025
Verb
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From Seattle to Baltimore, many Americans were celebrating Monday as Indigenous Peoples Day, determined to see it as a triumph of perseverance over centuries marked by trauma.—
Terry Tang,
Twin Cities,
13 Oct. 2025
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His conviction was overturned in 2024 after an appeals court determined a juror had been improperly dismissed during deliberations.—
Julia Bonavita,
FOXNews.com,
13 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The researchers also uncovered signs of immune and inflammation pathways involved in the disease, which could help guide treatment in the future.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
9 Oct. 2025
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Since its formation, the Task Force has identified more than 4,600 victims and uncovered over $325 million in losses suffered by San Diegans.—
Summer Stephan,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
9 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Nailed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nailed. Accessed 16 Oct. 2025.
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