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
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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
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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
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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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of nail
Few writers have nailed the interpersonal thriller better than Kitamura.
—
Joumana Khatib, New York Times, 7 Apr. 2025
But a few hours later, there was Thomson’s steady catcher spinning around and pumping his right fist after nailing Shohei Ohtani at second base to end the eighth inning.
—Matt Gelb, New York Times, 5 Apr. 2025
Hoffman nails every beat of this scene, always appearing in full control but also considerate and loving.
—Erin Qualey, Vulture, 4 Apr. 2025
The nostalgic origins Korean jelly nails The allure of shiny, glittery, watery nails for spring and summer is easy to understand—on TikTok alone, #jellynails already boasts more than 20,000 entries and counting.
—Irene Coltrinari, Vogue, 4 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for nail
Joumana Khatib, New York Times, 7 Apr. 2025
But a few hours later, there was Thomson’s steady catcher spinning around and pumping his right fist after nailing Shohei Ohtani at second base to end the eighth inning.
—Matt Gelb, New York Times, 5 Apr. 2025
Hoffman nails every beat of this scene, always appearing in full control but also considerate and loving.
—Erin Qualey, Vulture, 4 Apr. 2025
The nostalgic origins Korean jelly nails The allure of shiny, glittery, watery nails for spring and summer is easy to understand—on TikTok alone, #jellynails already boasts more than 20,000 entries and counting.
—Irene Coltrinari, Vogue, 4 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for nail
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nail
Verb
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The song, which spent four weeks atop the Billboard Hot 100 in 1997, had the crowd singing along as the group put their own spin on the iconic ’90s hit.—
Mitchell Peters,
Billboard,
17 Aug. 2025
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Produced by Universal Pictures, Nobody 2 is the sequel to the 2021 action comedy hit Nobody.—
Tim Lammers,
Forbes.com,
17 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Depending on the size of a group, like the girls' 4-H club, competitors share rooms that fit 12 between six sets of bunk beds, with the adult chaperones deciding who shares rooms.—
Liliana Fannin,
jsonline.com,
7 Aug. 2025
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The district also stressed that the policy doesn’t mean teachers must use Chromebooks in every lesson and can decide when to use the technology.—
Caroline Beck,
IndyStar,
7 Aug. 2025
Verb
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In a larger way, the nothing-burger outcome exposes the flaws in Trump’s theory of diplomacy.—
Richard Stengel,
Time,
16 Aug. 2025
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In the recent experiment, described in a paper published Aug. 13 in the journal Nature, the researchers made 0.4-inch-wide (1 centimeter) specks float in a vacuum chamber when exposed to light about 55% as intense as natural sunlight.—
Tereza Pultarova,
Space.com,
16 Aug. 2025
Verb
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The owner of an ice cream shop was arrested on charges including child pornography after a hidden camera was discovered in the store bathroom, Illinois officials say.—
Mitchell Willetts,
Kansas City Star,
17 Aug. 2025
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As of early Sunday afternoon, Israeli police say 38 protesters had been arrested across the country for disturbing the peace.—
From Tal Shalev,
CNN Money,
17 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Four prisoners had to take turns using a bunk bed just to grab a few hours of sleep.—
Michael Collins,
USA Today,
18 Aug. 2025
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But Sunday, unfortunately for him, slipped away quickly as World No. 1 grabbed his fifth season title.—
Devlina Sarkar,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Aug. 2025
Verb
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The Phillies have not made any announcement on the severity of his injury but losing him could knock the defending NL East champs out of the playoffs early.—
Dan Schlossberg,
Forbes.com,
18 Aug. 2025
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To get rid of pests, start by spraying a strong stream of water on the plant to knock them off.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
18 Aug. 2025
Verb
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As is often the case with Atlantic hurricanes, Erin's path will be primarily determined by the strength of the Bermuda High, a semi-permanent ridge of high pressure that sits over the western Atlantic Ocean in the summer.—
Doyle Rice,
USA Today,
12 Aug. 2025
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Welborn said studies are underway to determine what improvements are most appropriate for the highway.—
Julie Gallant,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
12 Aug. 2025
Verb
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My research has uncovered pre-diagnosis versus post-diagnosis as a core variable in nutrition.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
15 Aug. 2025
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Companies that prioritize data intelligence can uncover hidden efficiencies, identify emerging opportunities and proactively mitigate risks.—
Matthew Gantner,
Forbes.com,
15 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Nail.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nail. Accessed 22 Aug. 2025.
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