In　this　study,　activated　nano　TaC　was　introduced　into　WC-Co　cemented　carbides　to　enhance　their　comprehensive　performance　properties.　Changes　of　mechanical　properties,　elements　distributions,　phase　constitutions　and　microstructures　of　the　cemented　carbides　were　examined　as　a　function　of　TaC　amount.　It　was　found　that　due　to　the　addition　of　activated　nano　TaC,　nanoscale　Co-rich　particles　and　cubic-Ta4C3　precipitates　were　induced　and　dispersed　within　WC　grains,　which　had　good　coherent　interfacial　relationship　with　the　hard　matrix.　The　combined　strengthening　effects　of　the　nano　precipitates　and　solid　solution　in　WC　resulted　in　excellent　comprehensive　mechanical　properties　of　the　cemented　carbides.　Particularly,　the　rupture　strength　has　achieved　the　highest　among　those　of　the　counterparts　reported　in　the　literature　so　far.　This　study　opens　a　new　perspective　to　use　activated　nano　compound　particles　to　modulate　hard　phases　of　cermet　materials　for　high　comprehensive　performance.　©　2020　Elsevier　Ltd