as in sacked
to let go from office, service, or employment
the boss will ax anyone who leaks company secrets
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 axed
Vaccine funding axed Weeks after Kennedy took over the federal health department, the CDC pulled back $11 billion in COVID-era grants that local health departments were using to fund vaccination programs, among other initiatives.
—
Amanda Seitz, NPR, 13 Feb. 2026
When the San Francisco Chronicle axed its stand-alone books section, in 2001, the paper’s editors were overwhelmed by an ensuing crush of vitriolic mail.
—Becca Rothfeld, New Yorker, 10 Feb. 2026
Others, like Letterman, also floated the idea that the series may have been axed in order to minimize complications with the Federal Communications Commission over Paramount’s merger with Skydance media group.
—Mekishana Pierre, Entertainment Weekly, 27 Jan. 2026
Tens of thousands of public health jobs axed.
—Jennifer W. Tsai, STAT, 18 Jan. 2026
Other Illinois providers said their grants for training and prevention programs were being axed.
—Lisa Schencker, Chicago Tribune, 15 Jan. 2026
Mike McDaniel got axed after his fourth year with no playoff win.
—Chris Perkins, Sun Sentinel, 15 Jan. 2026
Stellantis’ forays into EVs on this side of the pond have clearly not gone well, and with federal incentives and emissions targets being axed, the company has turned back hard into stuffing as many Hemis into vehicles that will fit them.
—Adam Ismail, The Drive, 7 Jan. 2026
But Rivers’ show had a rocky run and was axed by May 1987.
—Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 1 Jan. 2026
Amanda Seitz, NPR, 13 Feb. 2026
When the San Francisco Chronicle axed its stand-alone books section, in 2001, the paper’s editors were overwhelmed by an ensuing crush of vitriolic mail.
—Becca Rothfeld, New Yorker, 10 Feb. 2026
Others, like Letterman, also floated the idea that the series may have been axed in order to minimize complications with the Federal Communications Commission over Paramount’s merger with Skydance media group.
—Mekishana Pierre, Entertainment Weekly, 27 Jan. 2026
Tens of thousands of public health jobs axed.
—Jennifer W. Tsai, STAT, 18 Jan. 2026
Other Illinois providers said their grants for training and prevention programs were being axed.
—Lisa Schencker, Chicago Tribune, 15 Jan. 2026
Mike McDaniel got axed after his fourth year with no playoff win.
—Chris Perkins, Sun Sentinel, 15 Jan. 2026
Stellantis’ forays into EVs on this side of the pond have clearly not gone well, and with federal incentives and emissions targets being axed, the company has turned back hard into stuffing as many Hemis into vehicles that will fit them.
—Adam Ismail, The Drive, 7 Jan. 2026
But Rivers’ show had a rocky run and was axed by May 1987.
—Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 1 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for axed
Verb
-
Mauricio Pochettino, Tottenham’s manager at the start of that season, was sacked on November 19, with the team 14th in the league — although the fateful conversation with then-chairman Daniel Levy was conducted off-camera.—
Sarah Shephard,
New York Times,
11 Feb. 2026
-
Maye was sacked 21 times in the playoffs — the most ever for a QB in a single postseason.—
Peter Sblendorio,
New York Daily News,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Law enforcement officers had removed the mouth of the irrigation tube diverting water from a nearby creek, but all the piping remained.—
Rachel Becker,
Los Angeles Times,
12 Feb. 2026
-
By Wednesday morning, investigators had left the residence, the scene was cleared, and police tape had been removed.—
Bradford Betz , Matt Finn,
FOXNews.com,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Both Beijing and Hong Kong’s government have repeatedly rejected international criticism of Lai’s prosecution and dismissed accusations that his jailing was politically motivated or an assault on press freedom.—
Chris Lau,
CNN Money,
9 Feb. 2026
-
Karklin believes recreational flying and short-distance travel should not be dismissed.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
8 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Payne intentionally fired four rounds at 25-year-old Kierra Lane, killing her at her Covington home with the pair's children present, prosecutors said at trial.—
Quinlan Bentley,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
10 Feb. 2026
-
First, the publication appears to have fired its audience without acquiring a new one.—
Ben Smith,
semafor.com,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Presburger, who retired last Friday after 35 years of teaching at El Camino Real High, brought about 15,000 pins to Italy for the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, requiring three hefty suitcases.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Feb. 2026
-
Kovach's appointment as the city's new fire chief comes following the retirement of former chief Jeffrey Tomovcsik, who served as a McKeesport firefighter for more than 20 years and retired late last year.—
Mike Darnay,
CBS News,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Key Venezuelan opposition figure Juan Pablo Guanipa was arrested by heavily armed men on Sunday night, his supporters said, just hours after he had been released from a jail where he was held as a political prisoner.—
Diego Mendoza,
CNN Money,
9 Feb. 2026
-
According to a statement released by Bad Bunny’s publicist, the couple had first invited Bad Bunny to attend their wedding but were instead invited to be part of the Apple Music halftime show performance.—
Andrea Flores,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Axed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/axed. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
