nails

verb

present tense third-person singular of nail
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

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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

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 The film’s most heartbreaking scene sees Davidson’s character singing to his daughter over the phone before a deadly shootout ensues, and the actor nails it. — Marlow Stern, Variety, 30 Sep. 2026 The Rittenhouse nails it on superlative quality and prime Center City setting. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 29 Sep. 2026 There is something about that scene that nails the nuance of being gutted by the crimes of powerful, entitled men. — Beandrea July, IndieWire, 14 Sep. 2026 Baleaf consistently nails budget-friendly performance wear, and these capris are no exception. — Francesca Krempa, Travel + Leisure, 3 Sep. 2026 Plus, Sumosan nails Japanese fusion cuisine, fresh sushi and creative cocktails by the beach. — Stephanie Orma, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026 This neighborhood is cool and low-key, just like Sunny’s, and the menu nails it. — Angela George, Sioux Falls Argus Leader, 10 Aug. 2026 And then there’s the Intergovernmental Cooperation Act, which basically nails the federal government for not consulting with the county or state on the project. — Nick Bhasin, Mercury News, 28 July 2026 Below, find the best of the trending, minimalist ’90s nails to see you through summer into fall, and the pictures to show your nail artist. — Lorena Meouchi, Vogue, 23 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nails
  1. bangs
  2. decides
  3. exposes
  4. arrests
  5. grabs
  6. hits
  7. determines
  8. uncovers
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
  • If India decides to limit rice exports due to concerns about domestic food insecurity, that will in turn increase global rice prices.
    — Andrew Freedman, CNN Money, 2 Oct. 2026
  • If a community decides the potential benefits of such a project (jobs and reduced taxes, for example) outweigh its costs, the municipality should be able to move forward.
    — Mary Ramsey, Charlotte Observer, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of decides
Verb
  • Actual spaceflight also exposes cells to radiation and other conditions the experiment did not reproduce.
    — Stefanie Waldek, Space.com, 29 Sep. 2026
  • How red light therapy works Red light therapy exposes skin to low levels of red and near-infrared light without heat or burning.
    — Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of exposes
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
  • Over the course of Next Gen NYC’s season, which ended this past week, the model Ava Dash grabs a slice of pizza on Fulton Street; strolls through the Seaport; and calls her father, the hip-hop mogul Damon Dash, from a bench at Pier 17.
    — Adriane Quinlan, Curbed, 29 Sep. 2026
  • Ryan opens it, grabs a Diet Coke and asks one of his assistants to summon a cup of ice.
    — Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of grabs
Verb
  • And the next second, the second bomb hits right in front of the left of the car.
    — David Folkenflik, NPR, 4 Oct. 2026
  • Brightline only hits its top speed during a 38-mile stretch near Orlando.
    — Chris Isidore, CNN Money, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of hits
Verb
  • Development creates anatomy, which determines local physiology.
    — Subramaniam C. Krishnan, STAT, 28 Sep. 2026
  • Democrats serious about climate change should support active management tools before wildfire determines what these landscapes look like for generations.
    — Chris Edwards, Washington Post, 27 Sep. 2026
Definition of determines
Verb
  • Discover the Rhythm of Florida’s Northwest Coast From a boutique inn to the backwater bays Taylor Eisenhauer uncovers the storied side of Florida’s Panhandle.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Sep. 2026
  • Naomi Watts stars as a midwife who uncovers a Russian prostitution ring that draws in the son of the godfather, played by Vincent Cassel, and an enforcer, played by Viggo Mortensen, in one of his best screen performances.
    — Brian Tallerico, Vulture, 19 Sep. 2026
Definition of uncovers

Browse Nearby Words

nailing (down)
nails
nails (down)
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Cite this Entry

“Nails.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nails. Accessed 6 Oct. 2026.

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Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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