1
as in to 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 to decide
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 to expose
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 to arrest
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 to grab
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 nail
By nailing down Chance as the festival’s finale, before even his star-making turn at this year’s Grammy Awards, Sasquatch! grabbed one of this year’s marquee live acts for their youthful audience.
—
Charles R. Cross, The Seattle Times, 24 May 2017
Why does Apple nail what channel the Cavs game is on but Google does not?
—Alexis C. Madrigal, The Atlantic, 18 May 2017
Finally, in 2011, Shell and Eni paid the government $1.3 billion, including about $200 million as a signature bonus -- a onetime fee charged by some oil-producing nations -- to nail down the contract once and for all.
—Chiara Albanese, Bloomberg.com, 9 May 2017
How could anyone nail both the keys and the rhythms with perfect accuracy?
—David Pogue, Scientific American, 3 July 2017
See All Example Sentences for nail
Charles R. Cross, The Seattle Times, 24 May 2017
Why does Apple nail what channel the Cavs game is on but Google does not?
—Alexis C. Madrigal, The Atlantic, 18 May 2017
Finally, in 2011, Shell and Eni paid the government $1.3 billion, including about $200 million as a signature bonus -- a onetime fee charged by some oil-producing nations -- to nail down the contract once and for all.
—Chiara Albanese, Bloomberg.com, 9 May 2017
How could anyone nail both the keys and the rhythms with perfect accuracy?
—David Pogue, Scientific American, 3 July 2017
See All Example Sentences for nail
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nail
Verb
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McIlroy only hit four fairways and averaged 294.10 yards off the tee.—
Mark Davis,
Newsweek,
15 Mar. 2025
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So far, their Blackened Ranch Sauce and Sweet Heat Sauce will hit retailer stores on March 15, while their Mardi Gras Mustard will be on shelves shortly after.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Southern Living,
14 Mar. 2025
Verb
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The agency eventually decided to bring Starliner home uncrewed, which happened in early September, and fold Wilmore and Williams into the ISS' long-duration Expedition 72 mission.—
Mike Wall,
Space.com,
18 Mar. 2025
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But New Haven Judicial District State’s Attorney John P. Doyle took exception to the bill, asserting that prosecutors already consider someone’s history including domestic violence in deciding sentences.—
Livi Stanford,
Hartford Courant,
18 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Listen to this article Over 700,000 current and former Chicago Public School students’ information was exposed following a data breach last month.—
Ikram Mohamed,
Chicago Tribune,
13 Mar. 2025
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The big picture: The Darién Gap is a 60-mile, roadless, treacherous jungle of crocodiles, snakes, harsh terrain and drug gangs that human rights groups say exposes migrants to harm and disease.—
Russell Contreras,
Axios,
13 Mar. 2025
Verb
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The 39-year-old rapper, whose legal name is Johnny Reed McKinzie, was arrested by the Los Angeles Police Department at 5:20 p.m. in the 13000 block of East 115th Street, according to a department spokesperson.—
Clara Harter,
Los Angeles Times,
15 Mar. 2025
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This student was also arrested by local law enforcement last April while participating in a pro-Palestine protest.—
Brittany Gibson,
Axios,
14 Mar. 2025
Verb
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He’s minimized the walks, partly due to his willingness to use his curveball early in counts for strikes to get ahead and grab count leverage.—
Fabian Ardaya,
The Athletic,
14 Mar. 2025
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Oh my God, so amazing to grab that artist for Charlotte. ...—
Théoden Janes,
Charlotte Observer,
13 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Even 6 inches of moving water can pose a serious risk of knocking you off your feet.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacramento Bee,
15 Mar. 2025
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Some teams can knock themselves off the bubble with bad performances.—
Mark Davis,
Newsweek,
15 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Understanding financial interest and signature authority is key to determining whether a filing obligation exists.—
Virginia La Torre Jeker, J.D.,
Forbes,
21 Mar. 2025
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The first of which is Virginia, an assessor who determines whether prospective parents like Mia (Elizabeth Olsen) and Aaryan (Himesh Patel) are worthy of raising a child in their future world where resources are slim.—
Brian Davids,
The Hollywood Reporter,
21 Mar. 2025
Verb
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By implementing agentic workflows, Puri suggests that customers can focus on high-value activities by reducing repetitive tasks, accelerate decision-making in real time or experiment with solutions to uncover patterns to drive innovation.—
Adrian Bridgwater,
Forbes,
13 Mar. 2025
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Investigators and deputies with the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office were at the scene, along with police dogs trained to uncover human bodies, after the blaze.—
Rick Hurd,
The Mercury News,
13 Mar. 2025
Articles Related to nail
Cite this Entry
“Nail.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nail. Accessed 25 Mar. 2025.
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