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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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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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 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. — 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
  1. hit
  2. decide
  3. expose
  4. arrest
  5. grab
  6. knock
  7. determine
  8. uncover
Verb
  • McIlroy only hit four fairways and averaged 294.10 yards off the tee.
    — Mark Davis, Newsweek, 15 Mar. 2025
  • So far, their Blackened Ranch Sauce and Sweet Heat Sauce will hit retailer stores on March 15, while their Mardi Gras Mustard will be on shelves shortly after.
    — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Southern Living, 14 Mar. 2025
Definition of hit
Verb
  • But New Haven Judicial District State’s Attorney John P. Doyle took exception to the bill, asserting that prosecutors already consider someone’s history including domestic violence in deciding sentences.
    — Livi Stanford, Hartford Courant, 18 Mar. 2025
  • The match was all but decided on the second playoff hole, played on the iconic 17th at TPC Sawgrass.
    — David Faris, Newsweek, 18 Mar. 2025
Definition of decide
Verb
  • The big picture: The Darién Gap is a 60-mile, roadless, treacherous jungle of crocodiles, snakes, harsh terrain and drug gangs that human rights groups say exposes migrants to harm and disease.
    — Russell Contreras, Axios, 13 Mar. 2025
  • Listen to this article Over 700,000 current and former Chicago Public School students’ information was exposed following a data breach last month.
    — Ikram Mohamed, Chicago Tribune, 13 Mar. 2025
Definition of expose
Verb
  • The 39-year-old rapper, whose legal name is Johnny Reed McKinzie, was arrested by the Los Angeles Police Department at 5:20 p.m. in the 13000 block of East 115th Street, according to a department spokesperson.
    — Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 15 Mar. 2025
  • They were arrested in September 2023, as Azerbaijan was carrying out the mass expulsion of over 100,000 ethnic Armenians from Nagorno-Karabakh, the disputed enclave of Azerbaijan that until 2023 was inhabited and governed by its indigenous ethnic Armenian majority.
    — Mark Davis, Newsweek, 14 Mar. 2025
Definition of arrest
Verb
  • He’s minimized the walks, partly due to his willingness to use his curveball early in counts for strikes to get ahead and grab count leverage.
    — Fabian Ardaya, The Athletic, 14 Mar. 2025
  • Jones intentionally missed the free throw, grabbed his own rebound and fired a pass to Labissiere, who had popped out to the corner for a potential 3-point attempt.
    — Jason Anderson, Sacramento Bee, 13 Mar. 2025
Definition of grab
Verb
  • Even 6 inches of moving water can pose a serious risk of knocking you off your feet.
    — CA Weather Bot, Sacramento Bee, 15 Mar. 2025
  • Some teams can knock themselves off the bubble with bad performances.
    — Mark Davis, Newsweek, 15 Mar. 2025
Definition of knock
Verb
  • The city medical examiner will determine the child’s cause of death.
    — Elizabeth Keogh, New York Daily News, 9 Mar. 2025
  • Here are four simple questions that can determine longevity of your connection.
    — Mark Travers, Contributor, CNBC, 9 Mar. 2025
Definition of determine
Verb
  • The big picture: Attendees will have the chance to hear from the filmmaker, along with the reporter and researcher who helped uncover the real story.
    — Yacob Reyes, Axios, 13 Mar. 2025
  • In addition to the 22,000-year-old drag marks, archaeologists have also uncovered footprints in White Sands National Park that may date back 23,000 years.
    — Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 13 Mar. 2025
Definition of uncover

Phrases Containing nail

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Cite this Entry

“Nail.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nail. Accessed 24 Mar. 2025.

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Nglish: Translation of nail for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about nail

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