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
The first painting shows Saint Peter Nolasco kneeling before a vision of Saint Peter hanging upside-down, his hands and feet nailed to an inverted cross.
—
The Week Uk, TheWeek, 15 May 2026
However, the Titans nailed every part of it.
—Jayna Bardahl, New York Times, 15 May 2026
Bloomfield came in for an audition and nailed it on the first try.
—Aaron Couch, HollywoodReporter, 14 May 2026
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 Week Uk, TheWeek, 15 May 2026
However, the Titans nailed every part of it.
—Jayna Bardahl, New York Times, 15 May 2026
Bloomfield came in for an audition and nailed it on the first try.
—Aaron Couch, HollywoodReporter, 14 May 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nailed
Verb
-
After Addi Brown was hit by a pitch, Bree Martinelli struck a two-run double to center field, and Leah Rutherford closed out the scoring with an RBI on a squeeze bunt before Eustis was able to record an out.—
Gary Curreri,
Sun Sentinel,
23 May 2026
-
The power was once again on display as UCLA hit three home runs, cruising to a 9-1 run-rule win over UCF in the first game of the NCAA Super Regional at Easton Stadium in Los Angeles Friday night.—
Matt Murschel,
The Orlando Sentinel,
23 May 2026
Verb
-
For the cover of the May 25, 2026, issue, the artist Kadir Nelson decided to paint a tribute to the city’s budding artists.—
Françoise Mouly,
New Yorker,
18 May 2026
-
Lasser decided to leave the show in 1977, signaling its end.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
18 May 2026
Verb
-
In those first days of sobriety, the part of yourself that has been scabbed over with substances for so long is finally exposed, shivery and unprotected, to life dead sober.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
20 May 2026
-
During the response, authorities said 18 first responders were exposed to the substance and began experiencing symptoms that included nausea and dizziness.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
20 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
-
Trueblood walked, and junior Riley Lyons smacked Choquette’s first offering to right field for a single to score Glucksman for the 2-1 lead.—
Gary Curreri,
Sun Sentinel,
23 May 2026
-
Andre Owens smacked three of Santa Margarita’s eight home runs in the game.—
Steve Fryer,
Oc Register,
18 May 2026
Verb
-
The cause of death has not been determined, though investigators said the baby was full-term when he was found.—
Desiree Anello,
PEOPLE,
19 May 2026
-
The Sparks were determined to end a season-opening four-game homestand with their second straight win against Toronto.—
Steve Galluzzo,
Los Angeles Times,
18 May 2026
Verb
-
And in 2022, health investigators uncovered the likely source of 17 Legionella infections in Napa County — all of whom either lived, worked or had visited downtown Napa.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
18 May 2026
-
But Carro ruled that a subsequent search of the backpack at the police station, which uncovered a gun and a red notebook, was valid.—
N'dea Yancey-Bragg,
USA Today,
18 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Nailed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nailed. Accessed 24 May. 2026.
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