nail

verb

Definition of nailnext
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

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2
as in to decide
to make final, definite, or beyond dispute this latest infidelity nails it—I'm filing for divorce

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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

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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

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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

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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 Still, the Rams were poised to avoid a major letdown when punter Ethan Evans nailed his first placekick as a pro, giving LA a 16-15 lead in the final minute following Stafford's 6-yard touchdown pass to Colby Parkinson. — ABC News, 20 Oct. 2026 Charlotte Tilbury’s Lip Cheat Long Lasting Waterproof Lip Liner nails the trifecta, with a comfortable formula, impressive staying power, and an impressive shade range that makes finding a natural-looking match refreshingly easy. — Sheryl George, Allure, 20 Oct. 2026 Kelley, in perhaps the most emotional performance of his own career, nailed the song. — Joseph Hudak, Rolling Stone, 19 Oct. 2026 What was your process like for nailing the Newfoundland accent? — William Earl, Variety, 16 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for nail
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nail
  1. hit
  2. decide
  3. expose
  4. arrest
  5. grab
  6. knock
  7. determine
  8. uncover
Verb
  • Social media giant Meta was hit with a class action lawsuit in Australia on behalf of children and teenagers who allegedly suffered harm over the addictive design features and exposure to harmful content on its platforms Facebook and Instagram.
    — Chad de Guzman, Time, 22 Oct. 2026
  • For the past few years, Baba Stiltz has been hitting the open road with nothing but a guitar, a tape deck, and a few pedals.
    — Harry Thorfinn-George, Pitchfork, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of hit
Verb
  • Trials in four other cases in which Sorrells’ predecessor, Sharen Wilson, decided to seek the death penalty, have occurred during Sorrells term.
    — Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 Oct. 2026
  • The next auto race will be decided by which country can excel at both.
    — Rick Lazio, Fortune, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of decide
Verb
  • For example, companies that leave certain software unpatched – even for a few days – are exposing themselves to vulnerabilities that are no longer too difficult or expensive for bad actors to exploit.
    — David Goldman, CNN Money, 23 Oct. 2026
  • We're most exposed to credit cards with Capital One , whose quarter and earnings call commentary this week was largely positive.
    — Jeff Marks, CNBC, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of expose
Verb
  • People in the country longer may have more opportunities to contest their removal while the government typically has greater authority to fast-track deportations for people arrested at the border.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 23 Oct. 2026
  • In April, a US Army soldier was arrested and charged with using confidential information to make $410,000 in Polymarket bets on the timing of the military’s capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
    — Jon Brodkin, ArsTechnica, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of arrest
Verb
  • Finally, grab 32% off the Eufy E340 Security Video Doorbell with Chime, providing dual 2K cameras and color night vision.
    — Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 26 Oct. 2026
  • James scored 18 points, grabbed two rebounds and was a minus-22 going up against Paul Reed, and the 76ers were left to hope his presence at center was nothing more than a cameo.
    — Dan Gelston, Los Angeles Times, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of grab
Verb
  • Nantz tried to knock the ball from Watt, but hit his wrist hard on the football and immediately grabbed his hand.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 22 Oct. 2026
  • But several people who played key roles in knocking the two candidates off the ballot have close ties to the congressman’s political operation.
    — Jake Sheridan, Chicago Tribune, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of knock
Verb
  • The Kern County Coroner’s office will determine his cause of death, Hardy said.
    — Matthew Ormseth, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2026
  • The spacecraft is expected to land near the Moon’s south pole, where the computer will undergo tests to determine whether advanced computing systems can operate reliably in the lunar environment.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of determine
Verb
  • Agents uncovered previously unknown software vulnerabilities and flaws in OpenAI’s own configurations.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Another part of the investigation uncovered devices pretending to be expensive smartphones.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of uncover

Phrases Containing nail

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naïfs
nail
nail-biter
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Cite this Entry

“Nail.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nail. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about nail

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