NAILED Synonyms: 252 Similar and Opposite Words

nailed

verb

past tense of nail

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

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Relevance

as in decided

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

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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

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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

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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

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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 nailed His shot was answered by Nikolas Khamenia, but Demary came down to the opposite corner and nailed one from there, too, to keep the deficit well within striking distance on the very next possession. —

Joe Arruda, Hartford Courant, 30 Mar. 2026 With 10 seconds remaining, their defense forced a turnover, and the freshman phenom, Mulluns, nailed a three-pointer from the logo on the court. —

Matthew Couden, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Mar. 2026 This feels like the committee nailed it. —

Zach Harper, New York Times, 30 Mar. 2026 Within days, a Mustang GT got nailed at 85 decibels. —

Kim Komando The Kim Komando Show, FOXNews.com, 28 Mar. 2026 The Nuggets ended the game on a 21-5 run and a catharsis, as Jamal Murray nailed a dagger 3-pointer and played to the crowd that had jeered his team not long ago. —

Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 28 Mar. 2026 Doncic nailed a step-back three from the top of the key, held his follow through and hopped backwards on one leg. —

Los Angeles Times, 26 Mar. 2026 Less than two minutes later, the second-year Celtic received a pass from Payton Pritchard, dodged around a Shai Gilgeous-Alexander closeout and nailed a 3-pointer that stretched his team’s lead to double digits. —

Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 26 Mar. 2026 Johnson nailed his three-run homer to right-center in the first and Rodriguez followed with a solo shot to give Batavia a 5-0 lead. —

Paul Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 26 Mar. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for nailed

Verb

Five pitchers combined for nine strikeouts and allowed just hits for Andrew (4-3).

— Patrick Z. McGavin, Chicago Tribune, 4 Apr. 2026
Among them was Linda Parker, the president and CEO of Women In Distress of Broward County, who said Metayer’s death hit close to home.

— Amanda Rosa, Miami Herald, 4 Apr. 2026