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.
Synonyms
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 WebIsaac Avilucea, Axios, 4 Oct. 2024
But Marcus has more than just an axe to grind with generative AI.
—Kate Irwin, PCMAG, 17 Sep. 2024
In welcome news after facing the axe at the 2026 Asian Games, cricket is set to be a late inclusion in the sports programme for next year's Southeast Asian Games in Thailand.
—Tristan Lavalette, Forbes, 25 Sep. 2024
Mini-escape experiences and axe throwing for purchase inside midway.
—Luann Gibbs, The Enquirer, 12 Sep. 2024
Excursions to go horseback riding, try axe throwing and archery, or go fishing are all easy to plan as well.
—Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 6 Sep. 2024
The Crockett Chamber of Commerce Oktoberfest will feature live polka music, axe throwing, a classic car show and a yodeling contest, plus German bier, brezen and wurstle.
—Brittany Delay, The Mercury News, 5 Sep. 2024
The film’s satire takes an axe to corporate misogyny while creating characters that remain lovable because the goofball energy never once falters.
—Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 16 July 2024
Golf, pony rides, a nature trail, axe throwing, laser clay shooting, archery, and a rock-climbing wall join winter fun like ice-skating and curling and summer diversions such as trapeze and fishing.
—Allison Tibaldi, USA TODAY, 13 Aug. 2024
Mark Sutherland, Variety, 7 Oct. 2024
That report included information on how the company, then called Twitter, enforced its rules, responded to government requests for information, legal demands to axe content, copyright and trademark notices, and other details.
—William Gavin, Quartz, 25 Sep. 2024
Shares in Phoenix Group dropped on Monday as the financial services giant axed plans to sell its SunLife division.
—Royston Wild, Forbes, 16 Sep. 2024
The union also wanted to restore traditional pensions that were axed a decade ago but settled for an increase in new Boeing contributions of up to $4,160 per worker to employee 401(k) retirement accounts.
—David Koenig, Los Angeles Times, 13 Sep. 2024
Friday’s Black Cake news marks Hulu’s second cancellation of the day: The streamer has also axed dramedy series UnPrisoned, starring Kerry Washington and Delroy Lindo, after two seasons.
—Rebecca Iannucci, TVLine, 27 Sep. 2024
Southwest Airlines axed the most flights, canceling about 200, followed by Delta Air Lines, which canceled more than 100 flights, and United Airlines, which canceled more than 80.
—Alison Fox, Travel + Leisure, 26 Sep. 2024
The union also wanted to restore traditional pensions that were axed a decade ago but settled for an increase in Boeing contributions to employee’s 401(k) retirement accounts.
—Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 13 Sep. 2024
The union also wanted to restore traditional pensions that were axed a decade ago but settled for an increase in Boeing contributions to employee's 401(k) retirement accounts.
—CBS News, 12 Sep. 2024
Noun
The Bates Motel Attractions: 25-minute haunted hayride; escape rooms; axe throwing; and the Revenge of the Scarecrows Haunted Corn Trail that features animatronic monsters.
—Isaac Avilucea, Axios, 4 Oct. 2024
But Marcus has more than just an axe to grind with generative AI.
—Kate Irwin, PCMAG, 17 Sep. 2024
In welcome news after facing the axe at the 2026 Asian Games, cricket is set to be a late inclusion in the sports programme for next year's Southeast Asian Games in Thailand.
—Tristan Lavalette, Forbes, 25 Sep. 2024
Mini-escape experiences and axe throwing for purchase inside midway.
—Luann Gibbs, The Enquirer, 12 Sep. 2024
Excursions to go horseback riding, try axe throwing and archery, or go fishing are all easy to plan as well.
—Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 6 Sep. 2024
The Crockett Chamber of Commerce Oktoberfest will feature live polka music, axe throwing, a classic car show and a yodeling contest, plus German bier, brezen and wurstle.
—Brittany Delay, The Mercury News, 5 Sep. 2024
The film’s satire takes an axe to corporate misogyny while creating characters that remain lovable because the goofball energy never once falters.
—Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 16 July 2024
Golf, pony rides, a nature trail, axe throwing, laser clay shooting, archery, and a rock-climbing wall join winter fun like ice-skating and curling and summer diversions such as trapeze and fishing.
—Allison Tibaldi, USA TODAY, 13 Aug. 2024
Verb
The form was finally axed in 2017, although many one-off events still require a Temporary Events Notice.
—Mark Sutherland, Variety, 7 Oct. 2024
That report included information on how the company, then called Twitter, enforced its rules, responded to government requests for information, legal demands to axe content, copyright and trademark notices, and other details.
—William Gavin, Quartz, 25 Sep. 2024
Shares in Phoenix Group dropped on Monday as the financial services giant axed plans to sell its SunLife division.
—Royston Wild, Forbes, 16 Sep. 2024
The union also wanted to restore traditional pensions that were axed a decade ago but settled for an increase in new Boeing contributions of up to $4,160 per worker to employee 401(k) retirement accounts.
—David Koenig, Los Angeles Times, 13 Sep. 2024
Friday’s Black Cake news marks Hulu’s second cancellation of the day: The streamer has also axed dramedy series UnPrisoned, starring Kerry Washington and Delroy Lindo, after two seasons.
—Rebecca Iannucci, TVLine, 27 Sep. 2024
Southwest Airlines axed the most flights, canceling about 200, followed by Delta Air Lines, which canceled more than 100 flights, and United Airlines, which canceled more than 80.
—Alison Fox, Travel + Leisure, 26 Sep. 2024
The union also wanted to restore traditional pensions that were axed a decade ago but settled for an increase in Boeing contributions to employee’s 401(k) retirement accounts.
—Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 13 Sep. 2024
The union also wanted to restore traditional pensions that were axed a decade ago but settled for an increase in Boeing contributions to employee's 401(k) retirement accounts.
—CBS News, 12 Sep. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'axe.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near axe
Cite this Entry
“Axe.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/axe. Accessed 21 Oct. 2024.
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