NAILS Synonyms: 243 Similar and Opposite Words

nails

verb

present tense third-person singular of nail

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

as in decides

to make final, definite, or beyond dispute this latest infidelity nails it—I'm filing for divorce

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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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

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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

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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 nails Amenities and experiences Faraway nails the details and has thought of all of the mountain necessities. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 14 July 2026 Greece nails oodles of desirable attributes, according to Henley & Partners, a company that provides residence and citizenship planning. — Scott Hocker, TheWeek, 14 July 2026 This is the sort of pure 1980s batshit monologue that prompts both oh-my-Lord gasps and howls of laughter, and Neill nails the whole thing. — David Fear, Rolling Stone, 13 July 2026 Stripes continue to dominate summer style, and this easy matching set nails the trend without feeling overdone. — Chaise Sanders, Travel + Leisure, 10 July 2026 The costuming, which decks its cast in traditional Polynesian attire, nails the transition between media, but the real humans of the film clash against the cartoonish designs of Hei Hei or the giant crab Tamatoa (Jemaine Clement). — Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 8 July 2026 Spooky enough for Halloween and colorful enough for summer, this nails the summerween balance. — Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 8 July 2026 Director Paul Weiland, who lived out the exact same bar-mitzvah scenario his protagonist does, nails the specifics of a summer that, for better and for worse, remains ingrained into the national psyche. — Jon O'Brien, Vulture, 26 June 2026 Every year, Michaels nails the gothic aesthetic for its Halloween lineup—and this year, there are a few different hauntingly historic collections to browse. — Sophia Beams, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 June 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for nails

Verb

Especially the guy who bangs a wrecking ball against the historic East Wing to make room for an incongruous ballroom monstrosity, who mars the sacred Oval Office with gold glitter and paves over the lovely Rose Garden.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026
When selecting the perfect of-the-moment style for you (Jane Birkin bangs?

— Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 8 June 2026

Definition of bangs

Verb

One of the kidnappers, Rodrigo (Humberto Busto), decides that the only way to escape getting caught is to kill Felipe.

— Emily Blackwood, PEOPLE, 17 July 2026
Poseidon, upset that Odysseus blinded his son, the Cyclops Polyphemus, decides to make his return home difficult and long and wet.

— Gal Beckerman, The Atlantic, 17 July 2026

Definition of decides

Verb

Keith arrests our thinking, and cons us into suppressing our critical faculties with the same kind of internalized surveillance that philosopher Michel Foucault broke down to describe a prison’s use of the panopticon in Discipline and Punish.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 19 May 2026
Devlin throws a punch at Stone when the chief arrests him for drunken driving.

— Sandra Dallas, Denver Post, 19 Apr. 2026

Definition of arrests

Verb

The company said its proprietary data asset grabs millions of live data points across tens of thousands of factories and suppliers.

— Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 17 July 2026
Objects d’art In the living room, a vintage motorcycle immediately grabs visitors’ attention.

— Annabelle Dufraigne, Architectural Digest, 14 July 2026

Definition of grabs

Verb

Sweet potatoes are also classified by their skin color – orange, white, or purple — which also determines their texture when cooked.

— Asia London Palomba, The Spruce, 13 July 2026
Based on your salary, expenses, number of children and other factors, the school determines eligibility.

— Harriette Cole, Mercury News, 13 July 2026

Definition of determines

Verb

Iván stars as Joseph Santiago, a former felon who uncovers a corporate cover-up while investigating a car accident on behalf of a victim’s family.

— Jack Dunn, Variety, 16 July 2026
Angels In Darkness follows a troubled private investigator who uncovers a secret cult’s plan to unleash an ancient force, as the boundary between worlds begins to collapse.

— Zac Ntim, Deadline, 8 July 2026