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
Yes, there can be an artistry to nailing the dough, balancing the sauce, and assembling a thoughtful or even surprising mix of high-quality toppings.
—
Megan Spurrell, Condé Nast Traveler, 18 May 2026
Clark scored 21 points on 5-of-10 shooting, making all nine of her free-throw attempts and nailing two 3-pointers.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 18 May 2026
The two-time All-Star heated up early on Friday night, nailing back-to-back 3-pointers in the second quarter, but for most of the game she was held in check — until the fourth quarter.
—James Boyd, New York Times, 16 May 2026
And Morrone’s dedication to nailing the scene (and the entire series) paid off, eventually netting the rising actress her very first Emmy nom.
—Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 14 May 2026
In addition to cleaning up the beer itself, nailing the flavor was another hurdle.
—James Manso, Footwear News, 8 May 2026
Bolton took The Associated Press through the exhibit late last week as a huge team of installers was busy hammering, nailing, posing and otherwise adjusting the 400 items on display.
—Jocelyn Noveck, Chicago Tribune, 3 May 2026
This blouse gets it right for petite shoppers, nailing the proportions with a restrained sleeve and a sleeker fit through the body.
—Tanya Sharma, PEOPLE, 2 May 2026
Suspenseful and tense, the best sci-fi thriller movies are focused on nailing these themes.
—Grace Dean, Space.com, 2 May 2026
Megan Spurrell, Condé Nast Traveler, 18 May 2026
Clark scored 21 points on 5-of-10 shooting, making all nine of her free-throw attempts and nailing two 3-pointers.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 18 May 2026
The two-time All-Star heated up early on Friday night, nailing back-to-back 3-pointers in the second quarter, but for most of the game she was held in check — until the fourth quarter.
—James Boyd, New York Times, 16 May 2026
And Morrone’s dedication to nailing the scene (and the entire series) paid off, eventually netting the rising actress her very first Emmy nom.
—Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 14 May 2026
In addition to cleaning up the beer itself, nailing the flavor was another hurdle.
—James Manso, Footwear News, 8 May 2026
Bolton took The Associated Press through the exhibit late last week as a huge team of installers was busy hammering, nailing, posing and otherwise adjusting the 400 items on display.
—Jocelyn Noveck, Chicago Tribune, 3 May 2026
This blouse gets it right for petite shoppers, nailing the proportions with a restrained sleeve and a sleeker fit through the body.
—Tanya Sharma, PEOPLE, 2 May 2026
Suspenseful and tense, the best sci-fi thriller movies are focused on nailing these themes.
—Grace Dean, Space.com, 2 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nailing
Verb
-
Kay, meanwhile, rebounded after a first inning filled with traffic — two singles and hitting a batter with a pitch — to top his previous career high of 5 2/3 innings.—
LaMond Pope,
Chicago Tribune,
15 May 2026
-
As Kelsey Luderer rounded third base and headed home Thursday after hitting a game-tying home run that ignited Sherman Oaks Notre Dame to a 6-3 Division 1 softball playoff win over Anaheim Canyon, she was greeted by every teammate at the plate.—
Eric Sondheimer,
Los Angeles Times,
15 May 2026
Verb
-
Because teams are deciding whether to devote millions of dollars and precious roster spots to occasionally unreliable males in their early twenties, much of a scout’s work is akin to investigative reporting.—
Dan Greene,
New Yorker,
18 May 2026
-
The former Huskies’ star went off for a game-high 32 points, 11 rebounds and six assists to beat the Minnesota Timberwolves, 139-109, in the deciding Game 6 Friday night to clinch a spot in the Western Conference Finals against Oklahoma City.—
Joe Arruda,
Hartford Courant,
16 May 2026
Verb
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As her lie begins to unravel, her hunger for validation spirals into something far darker, drawing a devastated father into a desperate search and exposing a culture more obsessed with spectacle than consequence.—
Alex Ritman,
Variety,
16 May 2026
-
Several towns split their votes between Lamont and Elliott, exposing a bitter divide within the state’s party over whether Connecticut should turn in a more progressive direction.—
Stephen Underwood,
Hartford Courant,
16 May 2026
Verb
-
The department's robbery and homicide division is listed as the arresting agency.—
KiMi Robinson,
USA Today,
20 May 2026
-
Eventually, officers were able to taser, tackle and disarm Johnson before arresting him.—
Devoun Cetoute,
Miami Herald,
20 May 2026
Verb
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Prosecutors have theorized that after Mackenzie sped up the car, Dominic and Davion could have tried to stop the crash by grabbing the wheel or gear shift.—
Caroline Blair,
PEOPLE,
22 May 2026
-
Consider grabbing a set of packing cubes, which are great for packing for vacation and storing and organizing items at home.—
Paige Bennett,
Better Homes & Gardens,
22 May 2026
Verb
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However, when his past comes knocking, he is forced to confront it.—
Aramide Tinubu,
Variety,
22 May 2026
-
The footmen of such regimes always come knocking on your door at around four in the morning.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
21 May 2026
Verb
-
Bilingual interviewers began the interview in English and were instructed to follow the lead of the respondent in determining whether to conduct the survey in English or Spanish.—
New York Times,
New York Times,
21 May 2026
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Fat mass, endurance, hemoglobin levels, cardiovascular fitness, training, skill and access to resources all play roles in determining athletic performance and possible advantage or disadvantage, Cheung said.—
Starre Vartan,
CNN Money,
20 May 2026
Verb
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The surge reflects field teams and retrospective record review uncovering cases that had previously gone unreported.—
John Drake,
Forbes.com,
19 May 2026
-
After uncovering what the issue was following an 18-month mystery, the actress underwent multiple vocal cord surgeries and finally got an implant.—
Brie Stimson,
FOXNews.com,
16 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Nailing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nailing. Accessed 24 May. 2026.
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