1
as in hitting
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 deciding
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 exposing
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 arresting
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 grabbing
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 nailing
Basically, Bibb is totally nailing it.
—
Christian Allaire, Vogue, 19 Mar. 2025
The trick to nailing the design is to paint lines of different widths and let each color dry before painting the next.
—Sophia Panych, Allure, 13 Mar. 2025
The Grizzlies shot 74% in the first half and closed the opening 20 minutes by nailing nine straight field goal attempts to take a 48-39 cushion into the break.
—Sean Keeler, The Denver Post, 12 Mar. 2025
Conte got much of the first one started, nailing three of her triples in the first four minutes.
—Tom Mulherin, Boston Herald, 11 Mar. 2025
Everyone’s nailing it down the line.
—Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 11 Mar. 2025
That none of these people are nailing a campaign for a pulpy dumb thriller is not really a sign of anything one way or another.
—Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 10 Mar. 2025
The forward thrust of a work session can get lost amid the obsessive pursuit of nailing every minor detail—or rather, the central thrust of a play can get lost in its own attempts to render its world just so.
—Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 9 Mar. 2025
Outlook Single Double Triple Homer Our own Tim Britton gets a homer for nailing Kikuchi’s exact contract projection at three years and $63 million.
—Tim Britton, The Athletic, 21 Feb. 2025
Christian Allaire, Vogue, 19 Mar. 2025
The trick to nailing the design is to paint lines of different widths and let each color dry before painting the next.
—Sophia Panych, Allure, 13 Mar. 2025
The Grizzlies shot 74% in the first half and closed the opening 20 minutes by nailing nine straight field goal attempts to take a 48-39 cushion into the break.
—Sean Keeler, The Denver Post, 12 Mar. 2025
Conte got much of the first one started, nailing three of her triples in the first four minutes.
—Tom Mulherin, Boston Herald, 11 Mar. 2025
Everyone’s nailing it down the line.
—Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 11 Mar. 2025
That none of these people are nailing a campaign for a pulpy dumb thriller is not really a sign of anything one way or another.
—Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 10 Mar. 2025
The forward thrust of a work session can get lost amid the obsessive pursuit of nailing every minor detail—or rather, the central thrust of a play can get lost in its own attempts to render its world just so.
—Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 9 Mar. 2025
Outlook Single Double Triple Homer Our own Tim Britton gets a homer for nailing Kikuchi’s exact contract projection at three years and $63 million.
—Tim Britton, The Athletic, 21 Feb. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nailing
Verb
-
The driver pulled out a gun and fired six shots, the witness said, hitting not only the belligerent passenger but also an uninvolved man sitting nearby.—
Theresa Braine,
New York Daily News,
31 Mar. 2025
-
Tire tread depth - Checking your tire tread before hitting the road is important, as low or no tread can lead to sliding.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
31 Mar. 2025
Verb
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With so many cruise lines and many more ships, deciding which cruise to book for your family’s next vacation can feel daunting.—
Stacey Lastoe,
Southern Living,
11 Mar. 2025
-
But the process of cleaning up the charred remnants and deciding the fate of what’s left of the historic building may take years.—
Jake Goodrick,
Sacramento Bee,
11 Mar. 2025
Verb
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There is a risk of data breaches exposing personal information or location data and concerns about how footage might be used or shared.—
Kurt Knutsson, CyberGuy Report,
Fox News,
15 Mar. 2025
-
The move enraged fellow Democrats within the caucus and Democratic House leadership, who distanced themselves from the decision, exposing a major rift within the party.—
Samantha-Jo Roth,
Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government,
14 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
According to the motion, ICE agents held the 12 Liberty employees in four booths for nearly two hours before arresting them and escorting them out of the restaurant.—
Taylor O’Connor,
Kansas City Star,
15 Mar. 2025
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The California Values Act, also known as Senate Bill 54, took effect in 2018 and limits how police in the state can work with federal immigration enforcement and also prevents police from investigating or arresting people for immigration enforcement purposes.—
Anabel Sosa,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Mar. 2025
Verb
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The White Sox, though, had other ideas, grabbing Smith with the first pick of the draft for $100,000.—
Ken Rosenthal,
New York Times,
11 Apr. 2025
-
Knowing defensive back is a glaring need, especially with the release of Jack Jones, is trading back and grabbing someone like Jahdae Barron while acquiring another second-round pick worth considering?—
Vic Tafur,
New York Times,
11 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Businesses worldwide are determining what to do and what will happen with these tariffs in place, and motorsport series such as Formula One are no different.—
Madeline Coleman,
New York Times,
11 Apr. 2025
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Although some board members did refuse to parole anyone with a moderate or high risk score before the law took effect, the state’s parole board had much more discretion in determining when a prisoner was released, former board members said.—
Richard A. Webster,
ProPublica,
10 Apr. 2025
Verb
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This approach does what trial-and-error cannot by uncovering the root causes of obesity.—
Josh Hammer,
Newsweek,
23 Dec. 2024
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Driven by his instincts, Fok begins to dig deeper into the case, uncovering a labyrinthine conspiracy that threads through Hong Kong’s criminal underworld and its upper echelons of power.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
23 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Pretending to be dead, Gi-hun and his friends launch a surprise attack, overpowering the guards and seizing their weapons, leaving only one guard alive.—
Monica Mercuri,
Forbes,
28 Dec. 2024
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Individuals are seizing opportunities as well.—
Devorah Lauter,
ARTnews.com,
23 Dec. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Nailing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nailing. Accessed 22 Jul. 2025.
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