1
as in hitting
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
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2
as in deciding
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 exposing
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 arresting
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
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5
as in grabbing
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 nailing
The most notable challenge was, of course, nailing the right shade of green for Cynthia Erico’s Elphaba.
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Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 23 Dec. 2024
One of the main elements in creating a comfortable environment for guests in your home is nailing the perfect thermostat temperature.
—Patricia Shannon, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 Dec. 2024
Wrapped in Red, Clarkson’s 2013 holiday album, was another example of Clarkson nailing the pop-star ideal.
—Maura Johnston, Vulture, 19 Dec. 2024
Following much trial and error, the first prototype made its public debut at a Toyota Engineering Society event in 2018, managing to impress attendees by nailing nine out of 10 hoops.
—New Atlas, 15 Dec. 2024
Wright had kicked in two games for the Chiefs, nailing 8-9 of his field goal attempts and making both extra point attempts across the two games.
—Ryan Canfield, Fox News, 14 Dec. 2024
The Lions kicker played hero yet again after nailing a 35-yard field goal as the clock expired to help secure a 34-31 victory over their division rivals, the Green Bay Packers, on Thursday Night Football.
—Jacob Lev, CNN, 6 Dec. 2024
Everyone knows the perfect balance to nailing an OOTD is looking semi-effortless.
—Elle Turner, Glamour, 5 Dec. 2024
Beauty influencer Tanisha Cherry says that this dryer is the secret to nailing her flawless look.
—Alanna Martine Kilkeary, Glamour, 4 Dec. 2024
Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 23 Dec. 2024
One of the main elements in creating a comfortable environment for guests in your home is nailing the perfect thermostat temperature.
—Patricia Shannon, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 Dec. 2024
Wrapped in Red, Clarkson’s 2013 holiday album, was another example of Clarkson nailing the pop-star ideal.
—Maura Johnston, Vulture, 19 Dec. 2024
Following much trial and error, the first prototype made its public debut at a Toyota Engineering Society event in 2018, managing to impress attendees by nailing nine out of 10 hoops.
—New Atlas, 15 Dec. 2024
Wright had kicked in two games for the Chiefs, nailing 8-9 of his field goal attempts and making both extra point attempts across the two games.
—Ryan Canfield, Fox News, 14 Dec. 2024
The Lions kicker played hero yet again after nailing a 35-yard field goal as the clock expired to help secure a 34-31 victory over their division rivals, the Green Bay Packers, on Thursday Night Football.
—Jacob Lev, CNN, 6 Dec. 2024
Everyone knows the perfect balance to nailing an OOTD is looking semi-effortless.
—Elle Turner, Glamour, 5 Dec. 2024
Beauty influencer Tanisha Cherry says that this dryer is the secret to nailing her flawless look.
—Alanna Martine Kilkeary, Glamour, 4 Dec. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nailing
Verb
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When shooting on three or four different hoops, and from atypical angles, not only was hitting all the shots difficult, but so was getting the timing precisely correct.Lev Akabas, Sportico.com, 24 Dec. 2024
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Christmas Eve forecast On Christmas Eve morning, the heaviest snow is hitting upstate New York and northern New England where locally more than 1 foot of snow is possible.Emily Shapiro, ABC News, 24 Dec. 2024
Verb
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This summer is likely to be a key point in deciding his future — the two-year mark is usually when clubs either renew a contract or move on a player to maximise possible earnings.Gregg Evans, The Athletic, 24 Dec. 2024
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This could be as simple as burning a letter or keeping a small personal memento of the relationship and then deciding to release it.Mark Travers, Forbes, 23 Dec. 2024
Verb
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The solace of female intimacy is too exposing.Rachel Aviv, The New Yorker, 23 Dec. 2024
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Moreover, unclear policies and tracking mechanisms may prevent companies from aligning legal, ethical and regulatory standards in AI systems, potentially exposing the organization to compliance violations and associated penalties.Son Nguyen, Forbes, 23 Dec. 2024
Verb
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The train was ordered to stop at the next station, where two transit officers boarded and located the person of interest before arresting him without further incident.Greg Wehner, Fox News, 22 Dec. 2024
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On May 2, police officers raided and cleared the encampment, arresting more than 200 protesters.Orlando Mayorquín, New York Times, 22 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Rookie defensive tackle Byron Murphy II’s sack on the next snap was negated by a penalty for grabbing the quarterback’s face mask.Michael-Shawn Dugar, The Athletic, 23 Dec. 2024
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The headline-grabbing protests could also inspire some workers to organize unions at new facilities, posing a future threat to the company's distribution network -- but the protesters appear far from attaining the scale necessary for such impact, the experts said.Max Zahn, ABC News, 23 Dec. 2024
Verb
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The difficulty from Liverpool’s side, perhaps, will be determining his value and how much to invest in a player now considered to be in his prime.Gregg Evans, The Athletic, 24 Dec. 2024
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In Chinese culture, people use the Gregorian calendar for civil purposes, but the Chinese calendar remains important for agricultural production and determining certain holidays, so what better way to ring in the New Year?Sophie Furley, Robb Report, 24 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Driven by his instincts, Fok begins to dig deeper into the case, uncovering a labyrinthine conspiracy that threads through Hong Kong’s criminal underworld and its upper echelons of power.Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 23 Dec. 2024
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This approach does what trial-and-error cannot by uncovering the root causes of obesity.Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 23 Dec. 2024
Verb
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The Democratic People's Republic of Korea's (DPRK) forces have since received training by Russian forces in the Far East and first engaged in combat with Ukrainian military in November, subsequently seizing their first village in Kursk, Plekhovo, earlier this month.Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 23 Dec. 2024
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Individuals are seizing opportunities as well.Devorah Lauter, ARTnews.com, 23 Dec. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near nailing
Cite this Entry
“Nailing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nailing. Accessed 5 Jan. 2025.
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