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 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 Until now, maybe no product has come closer to nailing the smart home than Philips Hue. — David Pierce, The Verge, 12 July 2026 However, Boston quickly erased its deficit, nailing back-to-back-to-back 4-point shots, much to the excitement of Ice Cube and the crowd. — Ava Dicecca, Sun Sentinel, 5 July 2026 From shopping for clothes to nailing Parisian style in the heart of the city itself to snagging groceries to make a meal at your Airbnb, these bags are a sneaky hack to streamline your travel days. — Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 26 June 2026 Ellis reminded the crowd of attendees at the international festival of creativity that marketers have to protect their brands but also be adventurous to capture consumer attention and goodwill for nailing a moment a la L’Oreal and Durant. — Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 24 June 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for nailing

Verb

Duran started the year hitting third and now bats seventh or eighth, and his hold on everyday playing time might have been saved by Masataka Yoshida’s injury — at least until Roman Anthony’s return.

— Jayson Stark, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2026
Digging for compliments Shares in mining giant BHP are trading higher in Australia, hitting a two-month high, after the company topped earnings expectations and unveiled plans to pay its highest dividend in four years.

— Leonie Kidd, CNBC, 18 Aug. 2026

Definition of hitting

Verb

There is almost always a clean way to do that without exposing you and her to unknown risks and surprises.

— Gary Singer, Sun Sentinel, 13 Aug. 2026
Recent observations of some little red dots at lower redshifts have shown the cloud of gas around the black hole begin to disintegrate, exposing the black hole and the X-rays produced by the accretion of gas onto it.

— Keith Cooper, Space.com, 12 Aug. 2026

Definition of exposing

Verb

Since May, a series of law enforcement operations have taken place at the park, beginning with federal and LAPD officers arresting fentanyl and methamphetamine street dealers around the perimeter of the park.

— Jeff Nguyen, CBS News, 14 Aug. 2026
Attorneys say witnesses described a gunman matching Wright’s appearance, police received tips identifying Wright as the shooter and even issued a pickup order naming him as a suspect before later arresting Dobbs.

— Ben Wheeler, Kansas City Star, 12 Aug. 2026

Definition of arresting

Verb

The trio of founders allegedly told investors that the brand would feature an app as its centerpiece and be boosted by major advertising deals and attention-grabbing celebrity photo shoots and cover stories.

— Kevin Dolak, HollywoodReporter, 14 Aug. 2026
One of the most attention-grabbing stars in the sky still keeps its secrets close—and that is one of the main reasons astronomers have so much fun studying it.

— Phil Plait, Scientific American, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of grabbing

Verb

Resources considered when determining eligibility typically include the money held in checking and savings accounts, stocks, bonds, mutual funds and retirement accounts.

— Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 11 Aug. 2026
Prescription requests continue to surge, and determining eligibility requires careful chart review, documentation, and patient communication.

— Jeffrey Millstein, STAT, 11 Aug. 2026

Definition of determining

Verb

These types of conversations help teens feel understood and strengthen trust, while uncovering more about what is really driving the desire to change up their look.

— Liz Regalia, Parents, 10 Aug. 2026
The one-hour psychological horror thriller follows Rose (Balfe), a relentless documentary filmmaker and recently divorced mother, brilliant at uncovering others’ truths but struggling to resolve her own.

— Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 10 Aug. 2026