1
as in bangs
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 decides
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 exposes
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 arrests
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 grabs
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 nails
Take the quiz here … DUGOUT DANGER — Grand slam redemption follows terrifying moment when batter nails his own boss.
—
FOXNews.com, 14 Apr. 2026
Domingo nails it as the cutting teacher who has choice words about the robber’s style choices while his students offer their own insults.
—Omar L. Gallaga, Los Angeles Times, 12 Apr. 2026
Malcolm’s teenage daughter, Leah (Keeley Karsten), nails Malcolm’s mannerisms and resembles Muniz.
—Allison McClain Merrill, Parents, 8 Apr. 2026
McHale nails the role of mediator and doesn’t sacrifice any dignity in the process.
—Matt Donnelly, Variety, 31 Mar. 2026
All the cool girls are tying silk scarves to their handbags as elevated bag charms, and this one nails the look in baby blue and spring green.
—Olivia Cigliano, InStyle, 15 Mar. 2026
Styles nails the daring outfits, but can everyday guys pull them off?
—Mitchell Peters, Billboard, 15 Mar. 2026
And Amanda Robles nails all of it, which is quite an accomplishment for someone who is making her national tour debut.
—Jim Harrington, Mercury News, 7 Mar. 2026
Matas Vokietaitis has two buckets, Jordan Pope nails a 3-pointer, and Texas is off to the hot start that head coach Sean Miller wants.
—Thomas Jones, Austin American Statesman, 25 Feb. 2026
FOXNews.com, 14 Apr. 2026
Domingo nails it as the cutting teacher who has choice words about the robber’s style choices while his students offer their own insults.
—Omar L. Gallaga, Los Angeles Times, 12 Apr. 2026
Malcolm’s teenage daughter, Leah (Keeley Karsten), nails Malcolm’s mannerisms and resembles Muniz.
—Allison McClain Merrill, Parents, 8 Apr. 2026
McHale nails the role of mediator and doesn’t sacrifice any dignity in the process.
—Matt Donnelly, Variety, 31 Mar. 2026
All the cool girls are tying silk scarves to their handbags as elevated bag charms, and this one nails the look in baby blue and spring green.
—Olivia Cigliano, InStyle, 15 Mar. 2026
Styles nails the daring outfits, but can everyday guys pull them off?
—Mitchell Peters, Billboard, 15 Mar. 2026
And Amanda Robles nails all of it, which is quite an accomplishment for someone who is making her national tour debut.
—Jim Harrington, Mercury News, 7 Mar. 2026
Matas Vokietaitis has two buckets, Jordan Pope nails a 3-pointer, and Texas is off to the hot start that head coach Sean Miller wants.
—Thomas Jones, Austin American Statesman, 25 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nails
Verb
-
Teal'c takes out some frustrations on an unlucky grunt who bangs him with a door at the start of every time loop, and O'Neill gets to (temporarily) sample the will-they side of his will-they-won't-they relationship with Carter.—
Daryl Baxter,
Space.com,
14 Apr. 2026
-
Another bangs his head against the wall after expressing suicidal thoughts.—
Morgan Lee,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Elle Fanning stars as Margo Millet, an aspiring writer who decides to make money fast via OnlyFans; Pfeiffer and Nick Offerman play her parents, a former Hooters waitress and an ex-pro wrestler.—
Savannah Salazar,
Vulture,
17 Apr. 2026
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Chandler Levack‘s new film is structured like a Russian nesting doll of roommate stories, as the two girls are confronted by a guidance counselor who decides to tell them another story of freshman year roommates who didn’t get along at first.—
Christian Zilko,
IndieWire,
17 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Yet technology experts warn that outsourcing key decisions to AI exposes consumers to risks, potentially leading to communications errors and costing people money, while also potentially handing hackers the keys to their data.—
Megan Cerullo,
CBS News,
17 Apr. 2026
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If your roots are shallow, the leap exposes it.—
Jessica Billingsley,
Rolling Stone,
17 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Devlin throws a punch at Stone when the chief arrests him for drunken driving.—
Sandra Dallas,
Denver Post,
19 Apr. 2026
-
The horrid image in the news of a column of smoke rising above the city of Tehran — an abyss of darkness against the gray sky — arrests my attention.—
Babak Rahimi,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
14 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Keep those rosary beads handy whenever Aaron Gordon grabs his hammy.—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
17 Apr. 2026
-
Maya Hawke grabs her guitar and gets in front of the mic at the SiriusXM Studios in New York City on April 13.—
Katie Hill,
PEOPLE,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Brett Baty will get the bulk of his playing time, especially since the utilityman also hits left-handed.—
Abbey Mastracco,
New York Daily News,
16 Apr. 2026
-
Up next, she's set to star in the romantic comedy Office Romance opposite Brett Goldstein, which hits Netflix in June 2026.—
Andrea Wurzburger,
PEOPLE,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The national herd size isn't the only factor that determines what beef costs at the grocery store.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
16 Apr. 2026
-
Last year, given the same week off as the Play-In Tournament determines the seventh and eighth seeds in each conference, the Lakers suffered a lopsided 117-95 home loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 1 of their first-round series.—
Benjamin Royer,
Oc Register,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Mary Beard uncovers the spectacle of the Ancient Roman parade, the Roman Triumph.—
Mary Beard,
Big Think,
14 Apr. 2026
-
The film follows a police officer investigating a death in the snowy Kyrgyz mountains, who uncovers a web of violent corruption in a remote former gold-mining town.—
Zac Ntim,
Deadline,
13 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Nails.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nails. Accessed 20 Apr. 2026.
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