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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 And then there’s the Intergovernmental Cooperation Act, which basically nails the federal government for not consulting with the county or state on the project. — Nick Bhasin, Mercury News, 28 July 2026 Most anti-theft bags lean practical first and stylish second, but this Vantamo crescent bag nails both equally. — Chaise Sanders, Travel + Leisure, 25 July 2026 Below, find the best of the trending, minimalist ’90s nails to see you through summer into fall, and the pictures to show your nail artist. — Lorena Meouchi, Vogue, 23 July 2026 Either way, Ettika nails this jewelry trend with this three-piece layered necklace. — Katie Decker-Jacoby, StyleCaster, 22 July 2026 Amenities and experiences Faraway nails the details and has thought of all of the mountain necessities. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 14 July 2026 Greece nails oodles of desirable attributes, according to Henley & Partners, a company that provides residence and citizenship planning. — Scott Hocker, TheWeek, 14 July 2026 This is the sort of pure 1980s batshit monologue that prompts both oh-my-Lord gasps and howls of laughter, and Neill nails the whole thing. — David Fear, Rolling Stone, 13 July 2026 Spooky enough for Halloween and colorful enough for summer, this nails the summerween balance. — Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 8 July 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

That trial is scheduled to begin next month, but could be pushed back or canceled altogether depending on what the judge decides.

— ABC News, ABC News, 15 Aug. 2026
Whatever the judge ultimately decides, the case will continue on copyright claims involving allegedly unauthorized samples of sound recordings owned by the plaintiffs.

— Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of decides

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

But his wildly unfiltered speech grabs the attention of beautiful and brash public defender Ginger (Gilpin), herself a crusader for truth.

— Denise Petski, Deadline, 12 Aug. 2026
Profanity also grabs attention since the shock value of an F-bomb can lead to more media coverage and clips circulating on social media.

— Jeff Wagner, CBS News, 11 Aug. 2026

Definition of grabs

Verb

This hits me personally because my brother, Rescue 5 firefighter Allan Tarasiewicz, was killed that day saving people when the North Tower fell on him, all because of Bin Laden and money from Saudi Arabia.

— Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 9 Aug. 2026
Skies are expected to remain partly sunny Thursday as the chance of precipitation hits and sticks around through the night, NWS states.

— Grace Zokovitch, Boston Herald, 9 Aug. 2026

Definition of hits

Verb

In reality, bonding capacity often determines how quickly a contractor can expand.

— Nikhil Chandankhede, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
Jones came into the weekend 18th in the standings, 44 points behind 16th-place Austin Cindric for the final spot in The Chase that determines the series champion.

— ABC News, ABC News, 10 Aug. 2026

Definition of determines

Verb

Written and executive produced by Chandler Baker and executive produced by Susannah Grant, Discretion is a legal thriller about a summer associate Lenny (Fanning) at a prestigious Dallas law firm who uncovers a web of NDAs masking a dark truth.

— Denise Petski, Deadline, 13 Aug. 2026
The testing often uncovers issues that homeowners, and even many contractors, never realize exist.

— Brynn Cooksey, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2026