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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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
Examples 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.
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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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Mixed precipitation hits Midwest The arctic blast is gone and warmer weather is leading to troublesome mixed precipitation in the Midwest.Nadine El-Bawab, ABC News, 14 Dec. 2024
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Amaya made significant in-season adjustments, though, hitting .271 with a .761 OPS after the All-Star break while continuing to build trust with pitchers.Sahadev Sharma, The Athletic, 14 Dec. 2024
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Following Wrinkles, Indiana took a 15-year hiatus from executions until Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb decided this year to resume them.Jonathan Limehouse, USA TODAY, 19 Dec. 2024
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The court decided that the ATF's denial was lawful and the Court of Appeals upheld this decision.Tim Ryan, Newsweek, 18 Dec. 2024
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Virtual patching enables teams to enforce mitigating controls for issues discovered in legacy software, can provide generic exploitation prevention beyond a specific CVE and buys the organization time to apply traditional patches without exposing critical assets to exploitation.Austin Gadient, Forbes, 13 Dec. 2024
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Officials in Arizona this week said nearly a half-dozen animals including a cheetah and a mountain lion at a Phoenix-area zoo died and others are sick after being exposed to the bird flu.Natalie Neysa Alund, USA TODAY, 13 Dec. 2024
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The calendar change likely comes one day after news broke that Kennedy, 32, was arrested on suspicion of domestic violence at his home in Los Angeles.Liza Esquibias, People.com, 14 Dec. 2024
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On Monday, police arrested 26-year-old Luigi Mangione and charged him in the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.Matt Burgess, WIRED, 14 Dec. 2024
Verb
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The 2-pound cordless device is easy to grab in a pinch to clean small spills and fur balls off of furniture, and it can also be used to refresh car interiors.Clara McMahon, People.com, 13 Dec. 2024
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Some Broad Ripple Starbucks lovers woke up to a surprise Thursday morning while stopping to grab a cup of Joe.Alysa Guffey, The Indianapolis Star, 13 Dec. 2024
Verb
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In a battle, Swanson, 41, knocked Billy Quarantillo out cold.Brian Mazique, Forbes, 15 Dec. 2024
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The losses continued under Mancini in the autumn of 2023 until a win in a World Cup qualifier against Pakistan started an eight-game unbeaten run that lasted until South Korea knocked them out of the Asia Cup on penalties.Matt Slater, The Athletic, 14 Dec. 2024
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Washington — The Supreme Court on Monday declined to take up a Hawaii man's appeal of his prosecution for carrying a handgun without a license, leaving untouched a state supreme court decision that castigated its new framework for determining whether gun laws comport with the Second Amendment.Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 9 Dec. 2024
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But until last year, Globe noms were solely determined by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, a group of fewer than 100 people based in and around LA.Scott Feinberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 Dec. 2024
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In recent years, the Justice Department has worked to uncover and disrupt a range of criminal schemes designed to support the North Korean regime, including efforts to fund its nuclear weapons program.Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 13 Dec. 2024
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With the help of a notorious Fallen angel, Bryce uncovers a dark power threatening their world in the quest for justice.Clare Mulroy, USA TODAY, 13 Dec. 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Nail.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nail. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.
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