NAILING Synonyms: 248 Similar and Opposite Words

nailing

verb

present participle of nail

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

Relevance

as in deciding

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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 nailing The San Diego native has started all 24 of UCLA’s games during his two seasons in Westwood, nailing 36 of his 44 field-goal attempts, including five out his nine attempts from at least 50 yards. — Connor Dullinger, Los Angeles Times, 24 Aug. 2026 But the point of the Neo is that it eschews frills and frippery in favor of nailing the basics. — ArsTechnica, 24 Aug. 2026 For a team on the edge of the wild-card race, nailing that balance is crucial. — Mitch Bannon, New York Times, 20 Aug. 2026 What were your thoughts on the discourse around people recreating the dance move from the GIF, and not exactly nailing it? — Chris Murphy, Vanity Fair, 18 Aug. 2026 The Olympian looked confident, nailing her first two tumbling passes with almost no landing errors. — Caroline Price, Forbes.com, 9 Aug. 2026 Making good on his promise in The Holdovers, Dominic Sessa is excellent in the role, nailing the contradictory aspects of a slippery character while mapping his coming-of-age arc with empathy and honesty. — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 29 July 2026 Ankle socks, meanwhile, are optional but highly recommended for nailing the preppy-cool look. — India Roby, Glamour, 20 July 2026 Russian performance artist Pyotr Pavlensky, known for extreme political actions including nailing his scrotum to Moscow’s Red Square and setting fire to the FSB headquarters, faces losing his refugee status in France. — Harrison Jacobs, ARTnews.com, 17 July 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for nailing

Verb

Cook will be remembered for making the iPhone feel essential to everything from buying a coffee to listening to music, hitting the gym or paying a credit card bill.

— Lisa Eadicicco, CNN Money, 31 Aug. 2026
Crow-Armstrong’s 38 blasts are tied with Kyle Schwarber (2019) for second-most by a left-handed-hitting Cub.

— Andy Martinez, Chicago Tribune, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of hitting

Verb

Even highly mature enterprise SOCs frequently remain dependent on humans assembling information from multiple systems, determining whether something is malicious and deciding what should happen next.

— Emil Sayegh, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026
Car shoppers weigh several factors before deciding on a vehicle.

— McKynzie Steward, AJC.com, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of deciding

Verb

Mars challenges Saturn, exposing weak spots in schedules, instructions, or everyday communication.

— Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 1 Sep. 2026
Much of its copper concentrate arrives from western China or overseas, adding transportation costs and exposing supply chains to international market and geopolitical disruptions.

— Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of exposing

Verb

In Manon Coubia’s visually arresting film Forest High, solo caretakers keep the fires burning in a remote Alpine chalet where weary hikers find modest lodgings.

— Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 2 Sep. 2026
Schultz drove up as a group of agents was arresting an anti-ICE observer in the middle of the street.

— Emily Witt, New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of arresting

Verb

Two men bought tickets to enter Vienna's Museum of Applied Arts (MAK) before smashing a display case, grabbing a 200-carat platinum and diamond necklace and walking away, police said Friday.

— CBS News, CBS News, 28 Aug. 2026
In the commercial, Good Good co-founder Garrett Clark rushes over to his golf bag and pushes over golfer Alexis Miestowski to keep her from grabbing the Quantum Driver.

— Andrew Greif, NBC news, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of grabbing

Verb

Additionally, potential buyers should consider the likely lifespan of the car when determining the length of their loan, Yoon said.

— Sarah Agostino, CNBC, 1 Sep. 2026
That means determining how robots are transported, controlled, tasked, and integrated with soldiers and existing command structures.

— Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of determining

Verb

Europe’s summer wildfires are igniting and uncovering rusted bombs and mines from WWI and WWII, turning old battlefields into hazardous zones for firefighters and nearby communities.

— Sam McNeil, Los Angeles Times, 24 Aug. 2026
But uncovering the identity of the decades-old body would not be quick work.

— Elizabeth Wolfe, CNN Money, 21 Aug. 2026