as in sacking
to let go from office, service, or employment
the boss will ax anyone who leaks company secrets
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Recent Examples of axing
Yet a critical number of Republican lawmakers – wary of the long-term consequences of axing the filibuster when a Democrat is eventually back in the White House – have taken a hard stance to defend it.
—
Zachary Schermele, USA Today, 17 Mar. 2026
Other states would reap similar benefits from axing their income tax.
—Betsy McCaughey, Boston Herald, 16 Mar. 2026
Canal+ has made a big early decision as the new owner of MultiChoice by axing loss-making streamer Showmax.
—Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 4 Mar. 2026
Mass deporting migrants, brazenly axing federal grants and jobs, pursuing an inflationary trade war, risking the lives of soldiers to trouble the sovereignty of hemispheric neighbors—these things are shaking the everyday lives of Americans.
—Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 20 Jan. 2026
Year 2 of ShoddyBall should be better than Year 1, but the 2025 team revealed so many weaknesses, needs and holes that axing a defensive coordinator is only going to get you so far.
—Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Jan. 2026
Since then, his administration has proposed axing regulations on coal and gas power plants.
—Rachel Frazin, The Hill, 28 Dec. 2025
Mekies took over after Christian Horner’s surprise axing following this year’s British GP and quickly earned the respect of not just critical pieces of the Red Bull squad (aka Verstappen’s camp), but also many outside F1 observers.
—Alex Kalinauckas, New York Times, 24 Dec. 2025
Intel’s big new Ohio chip fab is delayed until at least 2030, and Tan has made major cost cuts by slashing 15% of the workforce in July and axing projects in Germany and Poland.
—Katie Tarasov, CNBC, 19 Dec. 2025
Zachary Schermele, USA Today, 17 Mar. 2026
Other states would reap similar benefits from axing their income tax.
—Betsy McCaughey, Boston Herald, 16 Mar. 2026
Canal+ has made a big early decision as the new owner of MultiChoice by axing loss-making streamer Showmax.
—Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 4 Mar. 2026
Mass deporting migrants, brazenly axing federal grants and jobs, pursuing an inflationary trade war, risking the lives of soldiers to trouble the sovereignty of hemispheric neighbors—these things are shaking the everyday lives of Americans.
—Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 20 Jan. 2026
Year 2 of ShoddyBall should be better than Year 1, but the 2025 team revealed so many weaknesses, needs and holes that axing a defensive coordinator is only going to get you so far.
—Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Jan. 2026
Since then, his administration has proposed axing regulations on coal and gas power plants.
—Rachel Frazin, The Hill, 28 Dec. 2025
Mekies took over after Christian Horner’s surprise axing following this year’s British GP and quickly earned the respect of not just critical pieces of the Red Bull squad (aka Verstappen’s camp), but also many outside F1 observers.
—Alex Kalinauckas, New York Times, 24 Dec. 2025
Intel’s big new Ohio chip fab is delayed until at least 2030, and Tan has made major cost cuts by slashing 15% of the workforce in July and axing projects in Germany and Poland.
—Katie Tarasov, CNBC, 19 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for axing
Verb
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The confrontation went viral in December 2024, as cameras captured Gastineau confronting Favre in 2023 over Michael Strahan sacking the Green Bay Packers legend to break Gastineau's single-season sack record.—
Ryan Morik,
FOXNews.com,
17 Mar. 2026
-
So Green can go back to sad-sacking and triple-singling starting Saturday against the Thunder, and certainly Monday against the Jazz.—
Dieter Kurtenbach,
Mercury News,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The president himself chose not to name a new full-time national security adviser after removing Mike Waltz, who had included a journalist in supposedly secure communications regarding military action.—
DP Opinion,
Denver Post,
4 Apr. 2026
-
Redick had said that the team considered removing Doncic, who suffered his hamstring strain in the third quarter against Oklahoma City, and Reaves at halftime.—
Benjamin Royer,
Oc Register,
4 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Minnesota public universities can continue to offer in-state tuition and scholarships to some immigrants in the country without legal status, a federal judge ruled on Friday, dismissing a lawsuit filed by the Department of Justice last summer that attempted to halt the programs.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
28 Mar. 2026
-
While widely dismissing the appeal, the Court also referred preliminary questions to the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) regarding certain aspects of the obligation mechanism, leaving the legal debate open.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Brockton man charged after allegedly shooting at officers Jailson Andrade, 44, faces several charges after allegedly firing at Brockton Police officers during an altercation early Sunday morning, according to the Plymouth County District Attorney’s Office.—
Colleen Cronin,
Boston Herald,
31 Mar. 2026
-
The officers shouted overlapping commands, telling LaMorie to stop and drop the knife before firing seconds later.—
N'dea Yancey-Bragg,
USA Today,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Conner Phillips walked Marcell Ozuna and Ryan O'Hearn before retiring three straight for his first career save.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Since retiring from a 25-year career in the Army in 2016, Bennett has been active in local government, first serving as the chief innovation officer for the City of Kansas City until 2019.—
Jenna Ebbers,
Kansas City Star,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
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So, while the video might look dramatic, having an emotional reaction after releasing physical tension is natural, said Watrous, who was not involved in Rimes' treatment.—
Sara Moniuszko,
USA Today,
1 Apr. 2026
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The data comes as Japan grapples with the fallout from the Iran war, with the country releasing oil stockpiles and enacting fuel subsidies to stave off the worst of the energy shock from the closed Strait of Hormuz.—
Lim Hui Jie,
CNBC,
1 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Axing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/axing. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
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