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
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 nail
Milan and Roma nailed the first part.
—
James Horncastle, New York Times, 12 May 2026
With delicate buttons down the front and a chic square-neck, this top nails the bohemian vibe, and is only made trendier with the addition of lace trim.
—Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 11 May 2026
After the match, an enraged Fatu attacked Reigns and nailed the referee with a pop-up Samoan Drop.
—Blake Oestriecher, Forbes.com, 10 May 2026
Thus far, her takeaway from the Cudi tour moment has been to rhetorically nail herself to the cross she's been carrying.
—Sheldon Pearce, NPR, 9 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for nail
James Horncastle, New York Times, 12 May 2026
With delicate buttons down the front and a chic square-neck, this top nails the bohemian vibe, and is only made trendier with the addition of lace trim.
—Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 11 May 2026
After the match, an enraged Fatu attacked Reigns and nailed the referee with a pop-up Samoan Drop.
—Blake Oestriecher, Forbes.com, 10 May 2026
Thus far, her takeaway from the Cudi tour moment has been to rhetorically nail herself to the cross she's been carrying.
—Sheldon Pearce, NPR, 9 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for nail
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nail
Verb
-
Andy Pages hit a three-run home run and Max Muncy hit his 12th homer of the season on the next at-bat to break a scoreless game in the fourth inning.—
Liana Handler,
Los Angeles Times,
16 May 2026
-
For cocktails and nightlife, hit TopGolf or Nola’s for live music then end the night strong with a table at HQ nightclub where resident and guest DJs keep the dance floor bumping and bottle servers keep the bubbly and energy flowing.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
16 May 2026
Verb
-
Daniella Segura California is weeks away from its June primary, in which voters will decide which gubernatorial candidates will face off in the November general election.—
James Ward,
USA Today,
15 May 2026
-
This is the third time Weinstein has been tried for a charge of third-degree rape; Judge Curtis Farber gave prosecutors 30 days to decide whether he will be tried a fourth time.—
Kory Grow,
Rolling Stone,
15 May 2026
Verb
-
But Detroit’s damning offensive flaws, which its defense compensated for during the regular season, were exposed by the Cavs.—
Hunter Patterson,
New York Times,
18 May 2026
-
Traveling through different communities exposed him to areas without reliable electricity, including rural regions internationally and underserved areas closer to home.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
18 May 2026
Verb
-
On the topic of arresting homeless people, moderators asked how Bianco's sheriff's office has been known to do.—
James Ward,
USA Today,
15 May 2026
-
Dulce Dayana Hernandez Jimenez, 28, was arrested Tuesday at JFK Airport after a flight from Mexico, police said.—
Kerry Burke,
New York Daily News,
15 May 2026
Verb
-
Denise ascended the stairs, yelling at Djena all the way up, then grabbed Djena by the collar and began hitting her.—
Yudhijit Bhattacharjee,
New Yorker,
18 May 2026
-
To make one, grab a clean, thick sock (preferably a larger one) and fill it with uncooked rice, oats, or flaxseed.—
Caroline Lubinsky,
Martha Stewart,
18 May 2026
Verb
-
Even 6 inches of moving water can pose a serious risk of knocking you off your feet.—
STAR-TELEGRAM WEATHER BOT,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
19 May 2026
-
One morning, a cop knocked on my door with a summons.—
Abraham Jiménez Enoa,
The Dial,
19 May 2026
Verb
-
This time, the director was determined not to cut corners, to make a film as maximalist as his imagination.—
Emily Nussbaum,
New Yorker,
17 May 2026
-
The choice is vast, yet experienced brokers are quick to point out that specifications alone rarely determine a successful charter.—
Rachel Ingram,
Robb Report,
16 May 2026
Verb
-
Cadaver dogs had previously alerted to the scent of human remains in the backyard, but earlier searches did not uncover a body.—
Doug Dunbar,
CBS News,
16 May 2026
-
After uncovering what the issue was following an 18-month mystery, the actress underwent multiple vocal cord surgeries and finally got an implant.—
Brie Stimson,
FOXNews.com,
16 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Nail.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nail. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
