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
After the match, an enraged Fatu attacked Reigns and nailed the referee with a pop-up Samoan Drop.
—
Blake Oestriecher, Forbes.com, 10 May 2026
In the second, Jorge Soler was nailed at home by Barger, who made a perfect throw from right field after catching a fly ball.
—Jeff Fletcher, Oc Register, 9 May 2026
Season 5 followed Holy Week and the Last Supper, and season 6 will cover the Crucifixion and the final 24 hours of Jesus’ life before he is nailed to the cross.
—Brayden Garcia
may 7, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 May 2026
Firefly Aerospace nailed its first attempt to land on the Moon last year.
—Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 6 May 2026
Tommy had nailed me and nailed me good.
—Chang-Rae Lee, New Yorker, 3 May 2026
The Dodgers’ social media team nudged Smith out of that public shell a bit this spring, in a spot promoting his bobblehead night, in which Smith nailed a deadpan delivery and a range of facial gestures.
—Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times, 30 Apr. 2026
These plastic or burlap cloths can be strung on hooks nailed into a structure, or draped over hoops or posts just above the plants.
—ABC News, 30 Apr. 2026
In the bottom of the frame, shortstop Ezequiel Tovar made a scrambling, diving stop on Sal Stewart’s grounder behind second base, then Tovar nailed Matt McClain at the plate for the final out of the inning.
—Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, 30 Apr. 2026
Blake Oestriecher, Forbes.com, 10 May 2026
In the second, Jorge Soler was nailed at home by Barger, who made a perfect throw from right field after catching a fly ball.
—Jeff Fletcher, Oc Register, 9 May 2026
Season 5 followed Holy Week and the Last Supper, and season 6 will cover the Crucifixion and the final 24 hours of Jesus’ life before he is nailed to the cross.
—Brayden Garcia
may 7, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 May 2026
Firefly Aerospace nailed its first attempt to land on the Moon last year.
—Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 6 May 2026
Tommy had nailed me and nailed me good.
—Chang-Rae Lee, New Yorker, 3 May 2026
The Dodgers’ social media team nudged Smith out of that public shell a bit this spring, in a spot promoting his bobblehead night, in which Smith nailed a deadpan delivery and a range of facial gestures.
—Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times, 30 Apr. 2026
These plastic or burlap cloths can be strung on hooks nailed into a structure, or draped over hoops or posts just above the plants.
—ABC News, 30 Apr. 2026
In the bottom of the frame, shortstop Ezequiel Tovar made a scrambling, diving stop on Sal Stewart’s grounder behind second base, then Tovar nailed Matt McClain at the plate for the final out of the inning.
—Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, 30 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nailed
Verb
-
Andy Pages hit a three-run home run and Max Muncy hit his 12th homer of the season on the next at-bat to break a scoreless game in the fourth inning.—
Liana Handler,
Los Angeles Times,
16 May 2026
-
For cocktails and nightlife, hit TopGolf or Nola’s for live music then end the night strong with a table at HQ nightclub where resident and guest DJs keep the dance floor bumping and bottle servers keep the bubbly and energy flowing.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
16 May 2026
Verb
-
The company has decided to operate five completion crews for the rest of the year while adding two to three rigs to maintain a sufficient DUC backlog and ensure operational flexibility.—
TipRanks.com Staff,
CNBC,
10 May 2026
-
Kerr ultimately decided to return for another season with Curry and Draymond Green, but there was uncertainty for more than three weeks.—
Joseph Dycus,
Mercury News,
10 May 2026
Verb
-
As the current hantavirus outbreak unfolded, the CDC deployed teams to evacuate and quarantine Americans who may have been exposed, health officials briefed reporters and Bhattacharya went on a Fox News program to urge Americans not to worry.—
Ali Swenson,
Los Angeles Times,
13 May 2026
-
It is believed the initial infection was contracted by a passenger who may have been exposed to rodents during regional birdwatching activities prior to boarding, according to the WHO.—
Bonny Chu,
FOXNews.com,
13 May 2026
Verb
-
Police said Suarez was arrested and charged with two counts of manslaughter, three counts of vehicular manslaughter, two counts of vehicular assault and driving while intoxicated.—
Brittany Miller,
FOXNews.com,
16 May 2026
-
Jessica Moncallo, 30, was arrested and booked into the Dawson County Jail on May 11 in connection with a single-vehicle crash that claimed the life of a 16-year-old driver on April 15 on County Road 18, the Texas Department of Public Safety said in a press release on Tuesday, May 12.—
Angel Saunders,
PEOPLE,
16 May 2026
Verb
-
Young grabbed onto Elijah’s hair to try to hang onto the moment.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
15 May 2026
-
Becerra blunder The first ad that grabbed my attention was a quick-turn by San José Mayor and gubernatorial candidate Matt Mahan (still stuck in single-digit polling numbers), who jumped on Xavier Becerra’s first major mess-up.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
14 May 2026
Verb
-
Alex Call came off the bench and smacked a Matt Gage fastball into right field for a two-run single to take the lead in the sixth inning.—
Fabian Ardaya,
New York Times,
15 May 2026
-
The two have smacked each other around in the weeks since and traded barbs over their places within the company.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
9 May 2026
Verb
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After some counting—and the consulting of an Excel spreadsheet—the officers determined that Silvia and Guojun were the parents of twenty-one children in total, nearly all under the age of three.—
Ava Kofman,
New Yorker,
11 May 2026
-
The cause of the fire is yet to be determined.—
Austin Turner,
CBS News,
11 May 2026
Verb
-
Sensitive outdoor plants may be killed if left uncovered.—
Mike Darnay,
CBS News,
11 May 2026
-
Also uncovered were architectural structures like a public bathhouse, decorative mosaics from a Roman villa, and high-tech water systems.—
Leigh Anne Miller,
ARTnews.com,
11 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Nailed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nailed. Accessed 18 May. 2026.
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