NAILED Synonyms: 252 Similar and Opposite Words

nailed

verb

past tense of nail

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

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Relevance

as in decided

to make final, definite, or beyond dispute this latest infidelity nails it—I'm filing for divorce

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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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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

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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

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of nailed Gross is nailed to start when fit, on penalties and is also on dead balls. — Abdul Rehman, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2026 All Vicki wants to do is get through this dinner and then read her Bible — she’s being nailed to the cross like Jesus was by those Judases, Emily and Jenn. — Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 11 Sep. 2026 In the end, the subject of the joke feels the Colin From Accounts team nailed it. — Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Sep. 2026 Overall, service and staff interactions nailed the sweet spot of professionalism and kindness, without being either too stiff or overfamiliar. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 Sep. 2026 As Rhodes pleaded with him to get out of the way, Orton nailed both Rhodes and Arango with a low blow. — Ryan Gaydos Outkick, FOXNews.com, 7 Sep. 2026 The Bruins called a quick timeout and Mateen Bhaghani nailed a 38-yard field goal for a 24-17 lead. — Aaron Heisen, Daily News, 6 Sep. 2026 Weinberg hit all six extra points and nailed his only field goal, from 46 yards. — Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 5 Sep. 2026 The problem is that Cadillac hasn’t nailed the sporty part of the equation, while other automakers—from Hyundai to Porsche—have. — Adam Ismail, The Drive, 2 Sep. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for nailed

Verb

The helicopter, which was used by NBC and Telemundo, crashed about two hours after police say Rios drove her 2004 Ford Expedition the wrong way down a busy avenue, ran a red light and struck a vehicle before hitting the bus.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 17 Sep. 2026
Police say Rios drove her 2004 Ford Expedition the wrong way down a busy avenue, ran a red light, and struck another vehicle before hitting the Metro bus.

— Kevin Dolak, HollywoodReporter, 16 Sep. 2026

Definition of hit

Verb

Oak Park and Evanston have decided to end their Flock contracts.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 7 Sep. 2026
After sunsetting their decades-long careers in the aerospace industry, brothers Jerry and Peter Wong decided to add a bit of magic to their lives by working at Disney.

— Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 6 Sep. 2026

Definition of decided

Verb

The Strait of Hormuz crisis has exposed just how vulnerable African economies remain to energy shocks.

— Nana Menya Ayensu, semafor.com, 7 Sep. 2026
After their secondary was exposed in an NFC championship game defeat by the Seattle Seahawks, the Rams traded for All-Pro cornerback Trent McDuffie.

— Gary Klein, Los Angeles Times, 6 Sep. 2026

Definition of exposed

Verb

Dasha Ramírez, now 9, still remembers the day armed, uniformed Border Patrol agents arrested her family, her mother, Noemi Chavez, told the Tribune.

— Andrew Carter, Chicago Tribune, 6 Sep. 2026
Federal authorities have arrested and sought to deport pro-Palestinian activists, actions that judges have deemed a First Amendment violation.

— BrieAnna J. Frank, USA Today, 6 Sep. 2026

Definition of arrested

Verb

Chicago police said a man approached each victim from behind, wrapped his arms around them and then grabbed their breasts and groin area over their clothes before fleeing the area.

— Elyssa Kaufman, CBS News, 17 Sep. 2026
Hardy avoided a collision, but Showalter grabbed him and swung him off his bicycle, the lawsuit said.

— Nathan Pilling, Kansas City Star, 16 Sep. 2026

Definition of grabbed

Verb

That stretch started with the doubleheader sweep of the Detroit Tigers earlier this month, when Bazzana smacked a tying homer and a walk-off single in the nightcap.

— Zack Meisel, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2026
Suddenly a fan favorite in New York again, Volpe smacked a grand slam and drove in a career-high five runs during his rousing return from Triple-A as the Yankees beat the Colorado Rockies 10-3 on Thursday.

— ABC News, ABC News, 10 Sep. 2026

Definition of smacked

Verb

Investigators determined Sabini sustained a fatal injury when, for unknown reasons, his bicycle veered into the traffic lane, colliding with a motor vehicle traveling in the same direction.

— Ashley Sharp, CBS News, 18 Sep. 2026
The Texas Rangers’ path to the playoffs Three weeks ago Schumaker predicted the division title would be decided in the final week of the season, and this is one of those that could be determined in Game 161 or 162.

— Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 18 Sep. 2026

Definition of determined

Verb

However, Calif notes that the WeChat vulnerability had existed for some time, meaning a human hacker could have uncovered it too.

— Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 8 Sep. 2026
Archaeologists recently uncovered the remains of a medieval village that was mysteriously abandoned in Germany — raising questions about why its residents packed up and left.

— Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 6 Sep. 2026