<p>This paper investigates the synchronization problem of delayed complex networks under the framework of nonlinear delayed impulsive control. By constructing a novel comparison system, a class of nonlinear delayed impulsive differential inequalities is proposed for the first time, which provides a theoretical tool to analyze the interaction between time-delay coupling and impulsive nonlinearity. By this inequality, a nonlinear delayed impulsive controller is designed to realize local exponential synchronization of the complex networks. The intrinsic relationship between impulse actions, time delay, and system dynamics is further explored, showing that time delay exists in impulse actions has a stabilizing effect, and the impact of nonlinearity in impulse actions on system stability is closely related to the system’s state. Finally, the validity of the proposed theoretical results is validated via numerical examples.</p>