ax 1 of 2

variants or axe
as in dismissal
the termination of the employment of an employee or a work force often temporarily the company was hemorrhaging money, so 700 employees would soon be given the ax

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

ax

2 of 2

verb

variants or axe

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 ax
Noun
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
Verb
Scientists have been desperate to get back to Venus, for example, after a chemical compound associated with life was potentially detected high in its atmosphere in 2020; the two missions that would get us there are axed out of the administration’s budget. Adam Frank, The Atlantic, 4 July 2025 Theater groups, the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library & Museum and various community organizations also had funding axed out of the budget. Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 1 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for ax
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ax
Noun
  • But the Trump administration said Maddox instead should’ve taken his cue from the Supreme Court’s May decision allowing the president to fire Democratic members of two federal labor boards while the former members challenge their dismissals.
    Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 24 July 2025
  • Right now, all Broward students are prohibited from using their cellphones from the morning bell until dismissal, under a policy the School Board passed last year in hopes of improving mental health and academics among students.
    Scott Travis, Sun Sentinel, 24 July 2025
Verb
  • This is the first time a studio has put tickets for sale this early in advance, but considering Nolan has a loyal army of fans large enough to sack a city, there certainly won’t be any shortage of uptake.
    Benny Har-Even, Forbes.com, 16 July 2025
  • Red Bull driver Max Verstappen backed former boss Christian Horner before he got sacked by the higher-ups at the racing team.
    Nelson Espinal, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 July 2025
Noun
  • At their previous meeting in May, the regents approved a resolution that allows presidents of individual campuses to implement furloughs and temporary salary reductions as part of their budget plans.
    Sam Gauntt, Baltimore Sun, 15 June 2025
  • Now, Nasrin is home on a medical furlough for a heart condition that was exacerbated by COVID-19 and mistreatment in prison, and Reza is facing at least three more years in Tehran’s notorious Evin Prison.
    Jeff Kaufman, Time, 30 May 2025
Verb
  • The Nationals’ selection came a week after the organization fired manager Dave Martinez and general manager Mike Rizzo.
    Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 14 July 2025
  • While unconfirmed, sources say the film revolves around the period at the artificial intelligence company OpenAI in 2023 that saw CEO Sam Altman fired and rehired in a matter of days.
    Matt Grobar, Deadline, 14 July 2025
Verb
  • The handle snaps on and can be removed entirely or replaced with a strap.
    Louryn Strampe, Wired News, 20 July 2025
  • The work includes removing asphalt surface and placing new waterproofing, a new asphalt surface and associated items.
    Jalen Williams, Freep.com, 20 July 2025
Verb
  • The felony charges were dismissed with prejudice, meaning they can't be refiled.
    Quinlan Bentley, The Courier-Journal, 25 July 2025
  • Doctors dismissed the spider bite and didn’t give her a clear explanation.
    Ashley Vega, People.com, 24 July 2025
Verb
  • Such contracts can be terminated with 120 days notice from the USPS - but many sites impacted by the decision have warned the closures could negatively impact the local community and their businesses.
    Aliss Higham, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 July 2025
  • Hogan apologized, but the WWE had already decided to terminate his contract and effectively wipe him from the sport, removing references to him from their website, pulling merchandise, and even yanking him from the WWE Hall of Fame.
    Rolling Stone, Rolling Stone, 24 July 2025
Verb
  • Regarding Trump's assertions, the White House pointed NPR to a 2022 analysis done by the district attorney's office in Yolo County, Calif., which found that most of the 595 people released there without bail during the study period committed new crimes.
    Meg Anderson, NPR, 21 July 2025
  • Maybe investigative documents, perhaps including the files Trump ordered released, can answer some of these questions.
    semafor.com, semafor.com, 21 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Ax.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ax. Accessed 3 Aug. 2025.

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