1
as in to 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
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2
as in to decide
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 to expose
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 to arrest
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 to grab
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 nail
The margin reached 36-26 on a basket and free throw by Ike before Juzenas nailed his fourth shot from beyond the arc to pull the Gaels within seven points at the break.
—
Jeff Faraudo, Mercury News, 1 Mar. 2026
Hamilton nailed a 3-pointer from the left baseline as time expired in the second quarter to increase the lead to 45-18 at halftime.
—Butch Hart, Austin American Statesman, 28 Feb. 2026
Green is a tough color to nail.
—Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 28 Feb. 2026
Charlotte’s sharpshooting rookie nailed a 3-point jumper in the corner to bring the Hornets within two points of the Pacers.
—Mike Kaye, Charlotte Observer, 27 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for nail
Jeff Faraudo, Mercury News, 1 Mar. 2026
Hamilton nailed a 3-pointer from the left baseline as time expired in the second quarter to increase the lead to 45-18 at halftime.
—Butch Hart, Austin American Statesman, 28 Feb. 2026
Green is a tough color to nail.
—Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 28 Feb. 2026
Charlotte’s sharpshooting rookie nailed a 3-point jumper in the corner to bring the Hornets within two points of the Pacers.
—Mike Kaye, Charlotte Observer, 27 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for nail
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nail
Verb
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In seeing their six-game winning streak halted just before hitting the friendly skies for a four-game road trip that tips off in Phoenix on Sunday, the Hornets (32-32) were victimized by Miami in the fourth quarter.—
Roderick Boone,
Charlotte Observer,
7 Mar. 2026
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Byron Buxton was hit by a pitch in the fifth to push the Americans’ lead to 4-1.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Mega Millions and Powerball jackpot winners can decide on cash or annuity payment within 60 days after becoming entitled to the prize.—
Staff Reports,
The Providence Journal,
7 Mar. 2026
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The judge asked Bruns, the government attorney, what standards are used to decide if a reporter poses a security risk.—
Michael Kunzelman,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The robot is built mainly from liquid crystal elastomers, a rubber-like material that changes shape when exposed to light.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
3 Mar. 2026
-
Amanda Kohr Crickets – After the disappearance of their first-place teammate, a group of competitive teen dancers and their stage moms begin to unravel, exposing the brutal cost of girlhood, ambition, and the need to be loved.—
Katie Campione,
Deadline,
2 Mar. 2026
Verb
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After a series of field sobriety tests, Spears was arrested and booked into the Ventura County Jail.—
Derek Lawrence,
Entertainment Weekly,
6 Mar. 2026
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Britney Spears arrested The pop superstar was arrested Wednesday night on suspicion of driving under the influence, according to the California Highway Patrol.—
Alexandra Banner,
CNN Money,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Headline-grabbing cases of apparent fraud at companies like Carriox (which allegedly misled its private-credit lenders) and auto lender Tricolor (where banks got hoodwinked) show there’s plenty of blame to go around.—
Liz Hoffman,
semafor.com,
2 Mar. 2026
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The sophomore guard has grabbed the reins for the Red Raiders in Toppin’s absence and was named the Big 12 Conference’s Player of the Week on Monday.—
SportsDay Staff,
Dallas Morning News,
2 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The district also launched a door-knocking campaign to increase attendance at the beginning of the year.—
Bri Hatch,
Chalkbeat,
3 Mar. 2026
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Instead, the men knocked on the apartment door and the woman stepped outside in the hallway, closing the door behind her.—
Meredith Colias-Pete,
Chicago Tribune,
3 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Since the electronic structure of nickelates involves several energy bands, determining the exact carrier density is difficult, so the Hall coefficient served as a practical way to map how the system evolves.—
Rupendra Brahambhatt,
Interesting Engineering,
8 Mar. 2026
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As with any event, the location and the time of year have been the two biggest determining factors for the direction of my dress.—
Alexandra Ditch,
Vogue,
8 Mar. 2026
Verb
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During the investigation, authorities uncovered email accounts that Alorwornu used to defraud UConn which were also used to defraud other universities out of more than $500,000, authorities said.—
Justin Muszynski,
Hartford Courant,
7 Mar. 2026
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Understanding the Moon’s surface chemistry is key to uncovering its geology and history, but most previous maps relied on remote sensing combined with samples from near-side missions like Apollo, Luna, and Chang’e-5.—
Bojan Stojkovski,
Interesting Engineering,
7 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Nail.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nail. Accessed 9 Mar. 2026.
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