NAILING Synonyms: 248 Similar and Opposite Words

nailing

verb

present participle of nail

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

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

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

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

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

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 nailing Until now, maybe no product has come closer to nailing the smart home than Philips Hue. — David Pierce, The Verge, 12 July 2026 And for a team that hasn’t met expectations so far this season, nailing the on-base celebration is probably more important than a lot of fans might think. — Peter Chawaga, Forbes.com, 8 July 2026 However, Boston quickly erased its deficit, nailing back-to-back-to-back 4-point shots, much to the excitement of Ice Cube and the crowd. — Ava Dicecca, Sun Sentinel, 5 July 2026 From shopping for clothes to nailing Parisian style in the heart of the city itself to snagging groceries to make a meal at your Airbnb, these bags are a sneaky hack to streamline your travel days. — Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 26 June 2026 Ellis reminded the crowd of attendees at the international festival of creativity that marketers have to protect their brands but also be adventurous to capture consumer attention and goodwill for nailing a moment a la L’Oreal and Durant. — Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 24 June 2026 Sticking within similar tones of denim is the key to nailing this approach, and adding a coordinating bag or shoe helps bring it home. — Staff Author, InStyle, 19 June 2026 Wetterberg is still nailing her cheerleading routines deep into her pregnancy! — Gina Kalsi, PEOPLE, 18 June 2026 Croatia came close to nailing the equalizer in the 76th minute, but Jordan Pickford came up with the huge save. — Jim Barnes, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 June 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for nailing

Verb

There was more talk of hitting a provisional, but Spieth refused.

— Brody Miller, New York Times, 14 July 2026
That cool air crashes toward the ground, then spreads outward in every direction like water hitting the floor.

— Madeleine Wright, CBS News, 13 July 2026

Definition of hitting

Verb

Woodrow Wilson, having suffered a debilitating stroke in 1919, refused to yield the presidency while his wife and physician quietly hid his condition from the country, deciding on his behalf what the nation would be permitted to know.

— Michael Sonnenfeldt, Fortune, 19 July 2026
The family deciding what to put on the table tonight does not, and there is no defensible reason for that.

— Mike Snider, USA Today, 19 July 2026

Definition of deciding

Verb

Rather than exposing the consequences of a single program cut, health experts say the outbreak has revealed a public health system that has been under strain for years.

— Lauren Morganbesser, semafor.com, 14 July 2026
Comcast’s Xfinity division disclosed a similar breach in 2023, exposing nearly 36 million account holders’ data.

— Catherina Gioino, Fortune, 14 July 2026

Definition of exposing

Verb

After arresting the suspect, Rasiel Joel Carbuccia, 20, of Jamaica Plain, the two officers who were shot at were evaluated on the scene, to make sure they weren’t injured, then transported to a local hospital, police said.

— Colleen Cronin, Boston Herald, 16 July 2026
The two arresting officers testified they were never sequestered after Ramirez went unresponsive, a failure Brentwood’s police chief attributed to the weeklong delay between the arrest and Ramirez’s death.

— Hema Sivanandam, Mercury News, 15 July 2026

Definition of arresting

Verb

Permethrin is a spray that works on clothing and gear to keep ticks from grabbing you, but do not put it directly on your skin!

— Amanda Roome, The Conversation, 16 July 2026
As recently as 2021, he was accused of grabbing the mother of one of his children and throwing her to the ground.

— Candace Buckner, New York Times, 16 July 2026

Definition of grabbing

Verb

The incident was recorded on a home security camera, which assisted Deputy State Fire Marshals in determining the cause of the fire.

— Adam Thompson, CBS News, 14 July 2026
Chief Estella Patterson told committee members officers have a hard time determining the exact age of juveniles without an ID, which delays the investigation and prolongs police interactions.

— Nick Sullivan, Charlotte Observer, 14 July 2026

Definition of determining

Verb

As a genealogist, Baxter has helped over 150 people trace their ancestral roots through her organization Our Genetic Legacy, a nonprofit committed to uncovering the hidden histories of Black and Indigenous people.

— Amara Evering, Miami Herald, 11 July 2026
After uncovering the history behind it, the team looked for a way to weave the fictional characters into the real event.

— Max Gao, IndieWire, 10 July 2026