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
Carolina Panthers kicker Ryan Fitzgerald battled the wicked winds of Green Bay and nailed a game-winning 49-yard field goal to solidify an incredible upset victory on Sunday.
—
Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 2 Nov. 2025
Consuelos suited up in Kelce's Kansas City Chiefs uniform, while Ripa nailed Swift's game-day style with a red-and-white windbreaker, denim cutoffs and a backstage pass.
—Diana Pearl, PEOPLE, 31 Oct. 2025
Raisman truly nailed the landing.
—Carole Horst, Variety, 29 Oct. 2025
Burton nailed her debut Givenchy show for fall 2025, an exhilarating display of new silhouettes, including dramatic hourglass coats and jackets, geometric baby-doll dresses and austere gowns.
—Miles Socha, Footwear News, 28 Oct. 2025
Ausar Thompson notched a season-high 19 points to go along with four assists, nailed his first 3 of the year and was aggressive from the opening tip.
—Hunter Patterson, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025
Kicker Brandon Aubrey is 15 of 15 on the year, though, and has nailed all five of his tries from 50-plus yards.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 24 Oct. 2025
Vocal powerhouse and violinist Natalie Stovall stepped in for the duet and nailed a 12-second high note.
—Bryan West, Nashville Tennessean, 18 Oct. 2025
Beyond the look and feel (LOTS of orange decor and side-burns), directors Colin and Cameron Cairnes nailed other era-specific components like the exaggerated way talk show guests present themselves (the psychic!
—Gwen Ihnat, Entertainment Weekly, 18 Oct. 2025
Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 2 Nov. 2025
Consuelos suited up in Kelce's Kansas City Chiefs uniform, while Ripa nailed Swift's game-day style with a red-and-white windbreaker, denim cutoffs and a backstage pass.
—Diana Pearl, PEOPLE, 31 Oct. 2025
Raisman truly nailed the landing.
—Carole Horst, Variety, 29 Oct. 2025
Burton nailed her debut Givenchy show for fall 2025, an exhilarating display of new silhouettes, including dramatic hourglass coats and jackets, geometric baby-doll dresses and austere gowns.
—Miles Socha, Footwear News, 28 Oct. 2025
Ausar Thompson notched a season-high 19 points to go along with four assists, nailed his first 3 of the year and was aggressive from the opening tip.
—Hunter Patterson, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025
Kicker Brandon Aubrey is 15 of 15 on the year, though, and has nailed all five of his tries from 50-plus yards.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 24 Oct. 2025
Vocal powerhouse and violinist Natalie Stovall stepped in for the duet and nailed a 12-second high note.
—Bryan West, Nashville Tennessean, 18 Oct. 2025
Beyond the look and feel (LOTS of orange decor and side-burns), directors Colin and Cameron Cairnes nailed other era-specific components like the exaggerated way talk show guests present themselves (the psychic!
—Gwen Ihnat, Entertainment Weekly, 18 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nailed
Verb
-
Shein—a global fast-fashion juggernaut headquartered in Singapore—was mere days away from opening its first physical store in Paris, inside the BHV Marais department store, when the news hit.—
Andrew Nusca,
Fortune,
4 Nov. 2025
-
Rojas, a light-hitting infielder, hit an unexpected home run in the ninth inning of Game Seven to tie it and force extra innings, when the Dodgers won it.—
Steve Futterman,
NPR,
4 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
After achieving cash flow positivity at the end of 2023, Airwallex decided to re-invest in the business but is on target to reach profitability once again in the fourth quarter of 2025, a spokesperson told Fortune.—
Leo Schwartz,
Fortune,
3 Nov. 2025
-
The Paramount board decided to strike a settlement deal, paying $16 million to Trump’s future presidential library to end the litigation.—
Brian Stelter,
CNN Money,
3 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Kennedy had argued the animals exposed to flu may hold potential for disease research, but the agency said there was no evidence for this and yesterday the Canadian Supreme Court declined to weigh in on the case, removing the last legal roadblock to prevent their culling.—
Max Saltman,
CNN Money,
7 Nov. 2025
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Then later, a week after the testing was done, state inspectors discovered that about a dozen residents who had been exposed to COVID-19 were being housed in the same rooms as a slew of residents who hadn’t.—
Kevin G. Hall,
Miami Herald,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Also on Wednesday, a daycare employee was arrested outside of her workplace in Chicago.—
Brie Stimson,
FOXNews.com,
8 Nov. 2025
-
That’s when he was arrested at a Motel 6 outside Orlando, jailed and charged with grand theft for failing to return a rental car in Broward County.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Shakarna grabbed her medication and headed to try to reach her, fearing for her life.—
Zeena Saifi,
CNN Money,
7 Nov. 2025
-
But like de Blasio did 12 years earlier, Mamdani identified the growing crisis of unaffordability as the city's most pressing problem and grabbed attention − especially from the young and online − by promising to address it.—
Eduardo Cuevas,
USA Today,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
With that, Kirk smacked a grounder to shortstop Mookie Betts who stepped on second base, throwing to Freeman at first for the final two outs.—
Barry M. Bloom,
Sportico.com,
2 Nov. 2025
-
The incidents were the latest to occur in the area since mid-September, when North Carolina’s east coast started being smacked by strong winds and surf waves.—
Giulia Carbonaro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
29 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Currently, there is no data on the containment status of the fire and the cause has yet to be determined.—
CA WILDFIRE BOT,
Sacbee.com,
4 Nov. 2025
-
Investigators determined that the man was struck by a driver who left the scene, police said.—
Shambhavi Rimal,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
4 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
At the same time, Austrian Nazis plotted a coup, plans for which were uncovered in a raid on their headquarters on January 25.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Since the investigation began, it has been uncovered that the suspects forced entry using power tools to break through the second-floor window at the Galerie d'Apollon (Apollo Gallery), which had opened its doors to the public.—
Charna Flam,
PEOPLE,
6 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Nailed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nailed. Accessed 9 Nov. 2025.
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