NAILS Synonyms: 243 Similar and Opposite Words

nails

verb

present tense third-person singular of nail

as in bangs

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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Relevance

as in decides

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 exposes

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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as in arrests

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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as in grabs

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 nails The black diamond backdrop framing the classic cowboy spur really nails the retro look. — Jon Root Outkick, FOXNews.com, 12 Oct. 2026 Anderson’s collaboration with this gifted young man nails the one thing that every great concert movie tries gift to those who could not be there for the original moment. — David Fear, Rolling Stone, 2 Oct. 2026 The film’s most heartbreaking scene sees Davidson’s character singing to his daughter over the phone before a deadly shootout ensues, and the actor nails it. — Marlow Stern, Variety, 30 Sep. 2026 The Rittenhouse nails it on superlative quality and prime Center City setting. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 29 Sep. 2026 There is something about that scene that nails the nuance of being gutted by the crimes of powerful, entitled men. — Beandrea July, IndieWire, 14 Sep. 2026 Baleaf consistently nails budget-friendly performance wear, and these capris are no exception. — Francesca Krempa, Travel + Leisure, 3 Sep. 2026 Plus, Sumosan nails Japanese fusion cuisine, fresh sushi and creative cocktails by the beach. — Stephanie Orma, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026 This neighborhood is cool and low-key, just like Sunny’s, and the menu nails it. — Angela George, Sioux Falls Argus Leader, 10 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for nails

Verb

Especially the guy who bangs a wrecking ball against the historic East Wing to make room for an incongruous ballroom monstrosity, who mars the sacred Oval Office with gold glitter and paves over the lovely Rose Garden.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026
When selecting the perfect of-the-moment style for you (Jane Birkin bangs?

— Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 8 June 2026

Definition of bangs

Verb

The development calls into question the future of the USMCA, which will face annual reviews until 2036—or until one of the three partner nations decides to pull out.

— Kate Nishimura, Footwear News, 16 Oct. 2026
District decides the race The gerrymandered 5th district would have been a monumental challenge for Cleaver if the courts hadn’t ruled to pause the law pending an election.

— Jack Harvel, Kansas City Star, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of decides

Verb

De Hek, who exposes transnational scams on his blog and YouTube channel with relentless zeal, told me Pakistan’s fake companies offering literary services operate in a similar fashion to India’s scam call centers.

— Snigdha Poonam, The Dial, 13 Oct. 2026
Continue reading … OPINION ELI STEELE — NYC ICE shooting exposes how White Guilt erases personal responsibility.

— , FOXNews.com, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of exposes

Verb

Keith arrests our thinking, and cons us into suppressing our critical faculties with the same kind of internalized surveillance that philosopher Michel Foucault broke down to describe a prison’s use of the panopticon in Discipline and Punish.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 19 May 2026
Devlin throws a punch at Stone when the chief arrests him for drunken driving.

— Sandra Dallas, Denver Post, 19 Apr. 2026

Definition of arrests

Verb

Nope, the Crimson Tide would most likely be on the outside looking in, while someone else from the SEC grabs their spot in the postseason.

— Trey Wallace OutKick, FOXNews.com, 16 Oct. 2026
The suspect runs inside, grabs rolls of lottery tickets, stuffs them into a bag and runs out.

— Tara Lynch, CBS News, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of grabs

Verb

Creating a licensing body is not a bizarre idea in a world where the FAA determines the airworthiness of planes and banks must pass stress tests to operate.

— Diane Brady, Fortune, 12 Oct. 2026
What, for example, determines the topography of the hills and valleys?

— Quanta Magazine, Quanta Magazine, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of determines

Verb

As the investigation uncovers a string of killings linked to a strange ritual, the two are pushed into working together, facing down otherworldly threats as well as unfinished business from Lan’s past.

— Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 8 Oct. 2026
Discover the Rhythm of Florida’s Northwest Coast From a boutique inn to the backwater bays Taylor Eisenhauer uncovers the storied side of Florida’s Panhandle.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Sep. 2026