variants
or ax
plural axes
1
: a cutting tool that consists of a heavy edged head fixed to a handle with the edge parallel to the handle and that is used especially for felling trees and chopping and splitting wood
2
: a hammer with a sharp edge for dressing (see dress entry 1 sense 6e) or spalling stone
3
informal
a
: removal from office or release from employment : dismissal
—usually used with the
Employees with poor evaluations got the axe.
Trump quickly gave him the ax [=fired him] for his incompetence.—
Laura Petrecca
Laura Petrecca
b
: abrupt elimination or severe reduction of something
Unlimited expense accounts, signing bonuses, and office plants—all are getting the ax [=being cut or eliminated] thanks to corporate cost-cutting measures.—Amanda Hinnant
Amanda HinnantNo party was brave enough to offend its supporters by taking an axe to [=severely reducing] expenditure.—The Economist
The Economist4
slang
: any of several musical instruments (such as a guitar or a saxophone)
variants
or ax
axed; axing; axes
1
a
: to shape, dress (see dress entry 1 sense 6e), or trim with an axe
axe stone
b
: to chop, split, or sever with an axe
axe branches from a tree
2
informal
: to remove abruptly (as from employment or from a budget)
The TV program was axed from the new schedule.
Examples of axe in a Sentence
Noun
the company was hemorrhaging money, so 700 employees would soon be given the ax
Verb
The boss told him that he had been axed.
the boss will ax anyone who leaks company secrets
Recent Examples on the Web
New Atlas, 25 July 2025
The short clip features Maya locking herself in the bathroom of an unfamiliar home when all of a sudden an axe comes flying through the closed door.
—Katie Campione, Deadline, 24 July 2025
And my biggest fear was waking up in a police cell and having an old lady say to a police officer, yes, that's the guy who ran my husband down, or that's the guy who hit my son over the head with an axe.
—Janelle Ash, FOXNews.com, 24 July 2025
Colbert also reacted to Trump alleging Kimmel would be the next to get the axe in his Late Show monologue on Monday.
—Emlyn Travis Published, EW.com, 22 July 2025
So, Namco filled out the roster with the likes of Astaroth, who wields a screen-filling axe, and Raphael, who opts for a paper-thin rapier.
—Luke Winkie, Vulture, 18 June 2025
For example, Mars Sample Return — a project to haul home Red Planet material already collected by NASA's Perseverance rover — would get the axe.
—Mike Wall, Space.com, 31 May 2025
Manager Brandon Hyde got the axe Saturday, along with long-time friend Tim Cossins, the team’s catching instructor.
—Dan Schlossberg, Forbes.com, 17 May 2025
The recreation facility, which Murphy will operate, will have a bar and kitchen as well as escape rooms, axe throwing, electronic darts and an outdoor ropes course.
—Jake Allen, IndyStar, 2 July 2025
Matthew Leimkuehler, Forbes.com, 28 July 2025
Horner was axed after serving in the team principal role for several years.
—Nelson Espinal, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 July 2025
Additionally, the framework axes a $4,000 tax break for those who buy a used EV.
—Stuart Dyos, The Tennessean, 23 July 2025
The company has already made cost-cutting strides this month, axing about 9,000 employees in its latest round of layoffs.
—Samantha Subin, CNBC, 22 July 2025
The framework also axes a $4,000 tax break for those who buy a used EV.
Don’t miss the story: Here's a look at how automakers are reacting.
—Laura L. Davis, Nashville Tennessean, 22 July 2025
Public broadcasting stations, including Lakeshore Public Media, are bracing for an uncertain future after Congress axed much of their funding late last week.
—Alexandra Kukulka, Chicago Tribune, 21 July 2025
Pushing further speculation about why The Late Show has been axed is Trump's reaction to the news.
—Mekishana Pierre, EW.com, 18 July 2025
The British monarch, 76, has quietly axed a dress code rule at the royal residence in London, according to The Times.
—Stephanie Petit, People.com, 11 July 2025
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Noun
Just like previous iteration, the V3 takes the form of an axe that measures 16 inches (41 cm) tall from the knob (base of the handle) to the eye up top.
—New Atlas, 25 July 2025
The short clip features Maya locking herself in the bathroom of an unfamiliar home when all of a sudden an axe comes flying through the closed door.
—Katie Campione, Deadline, 24 July 2025
And my biggest fear was waking up in a police cell and having an old lady say to a police officer, yes, that's the guy who ran my husband down, or that's the guy who hit my son over the head with an axe.
—Janelle Ash, FOXNews.com, 24 July 2025
Colbert also reacted to Trump alleging Kimmel would be the next to get the axe in his Late Show monologue on Monday.
—Emlyn Travis Published, EW.com, 22 July 2025
So, Namco filled out the roster with the likes of Astaroth, who wields a screen-filling axe, and Raphael, who opts for a paper-thin rapier.
—Luke Winkie, Vulture, 18 June 2025
For example, Mars Sample Return — a project to haul home Red Planet material already collected by NASA's Perseverance rover — would get the axe.
—Mike Wall, Space.com, 31 May 2025
Manager Brandon Hyde got the axe Saturday, along with long-time friend Tim Cossins, the team’s catching instructor.
—Dan Schlossberg, Forbes.com, 17 May 2025
The recreation facility, which Murphy will operate, will have a bar and kitchen as well as escape rooms, axe throwing, electronic darts and an outdoor ropes course.
—Jake Allen, IndyStar, 2 July 2025
Verb
Earlier this month, CBS announced plans to axe The Late Show With Stephen Colbert, a jarring move from the media giant that left many questioning the future of late-night programing.
—Matthew Leimkuehler, Forbes.com, 28 July 2025
Horner was axed after serving in the team principal role for several years.
—Nelson Espinal, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 July 2025
Additionally, the framework axes a $4,000 tax break for those who buy a used EV.
—Stuart Dyos, The Tennessean, 23 July 2025
The company has already made cost-cutting strides this month, axing about 9,000 employees in its latest round of layoffs.
—Samantha Subin, CNBC, 22 July 2025
The framework also axes a $4,000 tax break for those who buy a used EV.
Don’t miss the story: Here's a look at how automakers are reacting.
—Laura L. Davis, Nashville Tennessean, 22 July 2025
Public broadcasting stations, including Lakeshore Public Media, are bracing for an uncertain future after Congress axed much of their funding late last week.
—Alexandra Kukulka, Chicago Tribune, 21 July 2025
Pushing further speculation about why The Late Show has been axed is Trump's reaction to the news.
—Mekishana Pierre, EW.com, 18 July 2025
The British monarch, 76, has quietly axed a dress code rule at the royal residence in London, according to The Times.
—Stephanie Petit, People.com, 11 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Axe.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/axe. Accessed 3 Aug. 2025.
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