1
as in hit
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 decided
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 exposed
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 arrested
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 grabbed
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 nailed
Santana nailed Swaan with Spin the Block and pinned him for the win.
—
Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 27 Apr. 2026
But with just under eight minutes left in the second quarter, Towns nailed Nickeil Alexander-Walker with a legal hip check before dropping a bounce pass of a dime to OG Anunoby, who finished with two hands at the rim.
—Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 26 Apr. 2026
Philly capitalized on both; Maxey nailed another three after the second to reestablish an 85-84 lead.
—Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 25 Apr. 2026
That’s when Fourth-Quarter Franz Wagner hit a mid-range jumper and then nailed a 3-pointer to put the Magic up for good.
—Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 25 Apr. 2026
If so, this bill may have nailed it.
—Robert McCoppin, Chicago Tribune, 24 Apr. 2026
Which brings me to the Carolina Panthers, which nailed the 2025 draft and rode many of those players to their first berth in the NFL playoffs since 2017.
—Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 21 Apr. 2026
Season 5 followed Holy Week and the Last Supper, and season 6 will cover the Crucifixion and the final 24 hours of Jesus’ life before he is nailed to the cross.
—Brayden Garcia, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 21 Apr. 2026
Her skin is now nailed to the ceiling of the refuge office.
—Bill Kearney, Sun Sentinel, 19 Apr. 2026
Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 27 Apr. 2026
But with just under eight minutes left in the second quarter, Towns nailed Nickeil Alexander-Walker with a legal hip check before dropping a bounce pass of a dime to OG Anunoby, who finished with two hands at the rim.
—Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 26 Apr. 2026
Philly capitalized on both; Maxey nailed another three after the second to reestablish an 85-84 lead.
—Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 25 Apr. 2026
That’s when Fourth-Quarter Franz Wagner hit a mid-range jumper and then nailed a 3-pointer to put the Magic up for good.
—Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 25 Apr. 2026
If so, this bill may have nailed it.
—Robert McCoppin, Chicago Tribune, 24 Apr. 2026
Which brings me to the Carolina Panthers, which nailed the 2025 draft and rode many of those players to their first berth in the NFL playoffs since 2017.
—Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 21 Apr. 2026
Season 5 followed Holy Week and the Last Supper, and season 6 will cover the Crucifixion and the final 24 hours of Jesus’ life before he is nailed to the cross.
—Brayden Garcia, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 21 Apr. 2026
Her skin is now nailed to the ceiling of the refuge office.
—Bill Kearney, Sun Sentinel, 19 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nailed
Verb
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And Silva hit a home run, her third, after attempting a bunt on the previous pitch.—
Dan Albano,
Oc Register,
25 Apr. 2026
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The Seattle Seahawks have already hit three of their biggest needs in the 2026 NFL Draft, taking Notre Dame running back Jadarian Price on Thursday night in Round 1 and TCU safety Bud Clark and Arkansas cornerback Julian Neal in the second and third rounds on Friday.—
Michael-Shawn Dugar,
New York Times,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
But everything has been put on hold until the league is decided.—
Laia Cervelló Herrero,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Chudzinski played basketball up until high school and was on the golf team his first two years at Lincoln-Way West but has decided to zone in on baseball.—
Steve Millar,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Curated by Our Editors Ultimately, public health workers got control of the outbreak through testing, contact tracing, isolating of sick and exposed individuals and vaccination.—
Tanya Lewis,
Scientific American,
29 Apr. 2026
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One firm in the study had already reduced on-property labor hours by 30% and another had lowered headcount by 15% with entry-level positions—data labelers, junior brokers, leasing associates—among the most exposed.—
Jeffrey Sonnenfeld,
Fortune,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
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In a letter to senators earlier this year, then-Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said that between January and November of last year, 261 DACA recipients were arrested and 86 were removed from the country.—
Ximena Bustillo,
NPR,
25 Apr. 2026
-
Three people were arrested after shots were fired at officers attempting to pull a vehicle over in the Brighton Park neighborhood, Chicago police said.—
Deanese Williams-Harris,
Chicago Tribune,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Investigators later learned Hissom and her male passenger, who was wounded, were caught in a crossfire as a group of four or five men grabbed weapons from a vehicle and began firing at each other.—
Darrell Smith,
Sacbee.com,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Aristide then allegedly charged at his brother, grabbed him by the neck and forced him to the ground, according to the report.—
Mauricio Maldonado,
CBS News,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Lauren Daugherty, a junior catcher committed to Kentucky, smacked a line drive to score two more and then scored on a single by senior Katelyn Wassey.—
Buddy Collings,
The Orlando Sentinel,
24 Apr. 2026
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Varma smacked Ashok Sharma for 26 runs from three sixes and two fours in the 18th, and reached his hundred with a six and a four off Prasidh Krishna’s last two balls in the final over that went for 22.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
20 Apr. 2026
Verb
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There was diligence paid to scouting Bernard, and the Eagles were determined to land him.—
Zach Berman,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
-
It was determined Megan had suffered from extreme exhaustion, dehydration, vasoconstriction, and low metabolic levels.—
Jami Ganz,
New York Daily News,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
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However, Pirro also suggested investigators have already uncovered evidence to back charging Allen with attempting to assassinate the president.—
Christopher Cann,
USA Today,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Redistricting usually happens every 10 years, with borders of districts redrawn to reflect population changes uncovered in the Census.—
Anthony Man,
Sun Sentinel,
27 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Nailed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nailed. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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