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
Literary Hub, 22 Oct. 2025
And at its climax, the Grabber, the franchise killer played by Ethan Hawke, gracefully stalks his victims on ice skates, ready to lop some heads with an axe.
—Jack Dunn, Variety, 20 Oct. 2025
The coach who continues to escape the axe did so again.
—Noah White, Miami Herald, 19 Oct. 2025
Highbrow, lowbrow, and everything in-between, Shudder’s marathon birthday party from 2025 should be remembered like an axe to the forehead.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 16 Oct. 2025
Mini-escape room experiences and axe throwing for purchase inside Monster Midway.
—Haadiza Ogwude, Cincinnati Enquirer, 15 Oct. 2025
There is also a pumpkin patch, petting zoo, hayrides, cider-making demonstrations, an axe-throwing station and a rock climbing station.
—Abby Hamblin, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Oct. 2025
The company also offers bowling, Krazy Darts and axe throwing at some of its theater locations.
—Mars King, Twin Cities, 15 Oct. 2025
With a handful of teams struggling more than anticipated, many are likely wondering who will get the axe next.
—Robert Marvi, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Oct. 2025
Pia Singh, CNBC, 27 Oct. 2025
There was also a coaching confrontation, as Woodward reportedly wanted to make changes to Kelly’s staff, which included axing offensive coordinator Joe Sloan.
—Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 27 Oct. 2025
The Rams dismissed Jay Norvell last weekend, a mere seven days after Oregon State axed Trent Bray.
—Jon Wilner, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Oct. 2025
The Times’ reporting did not include any information about axing jobs for active Amazon workers.
—Meghan Hall, Sourcing Journal, 22 Oct. 2025
According to the court filing, 2,050 positions would be axed.
—Natalie Neysa Alund, USA Today, 21 Oct. 2025
Amazon isn’t commenting on why it has been axed, news that The Nightly first reported over the weekend.
—Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 20 Oct. 2025
Battery storage systems, which are emissions-free energy sources, are also facing opposition; a Hamilton County proposal was axed this summer after the community pushed back.
—Sophie Hartley, IndyStar, 20 Oct. 2025
In the end, fired Red Wings Zamboni driver Al Sobotka was unable to convince a mostly younger jury that he was wrongfully axed for urinating in an ice drain at work due to a prostate issue, and that the company really wanted him out because of his age.
—Tresa Baldas, Freep.com, 16 Oct. 2025
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Noun
Archaeologists discovered a stone axe under the volcanic ash.
—Literary Hub, 22 Oct. 2025
And at its climax, the Grabber, the franchise killer played by Ethan Hawke, gracefully stalks his victims on ice skates, ready to lop some heads with an axe.
—Jack Dunn, Variety, 20 Oct. 2025
The coach who continues to escape the axe did so again.
—Noah White, Miami Herald, 19 Oct. 2025
Highbrow, lowbrow, and everything in-between, Shudder’s marathon birthday party from 2025 should be remembered like an axe to the forehead.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 16 Oct. 2025
Mini-escape room experiences and axe throwing for purchase inside Monster Midway.
—Haadiza Ogwude, Cincinnati Enquirer, 15 Oct. 2025
There is also a pumpkin patch, petting zoo, hayrides, cider-making demonstrations, an axe-throwing station and a rock climbing station.
—Abby Hamblin, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Oct. 2025
The company also offers bowling, Krazy Darts and axe throwing at some of its theater locations.
—Mars King, Twin Cities, 15 Oct. 2025
With a handful of teams struggling more than anticipated, many are likely wondering who will get the axe next.
—Robert Marvi, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Oct. 2025
Verb
Companies have mostly cited efforts to streamline operations and growth strategy as reasons for cuts, but many are nodding at AI as part of the reason that human worker roles can be axed now or in the future.
—Pia Singh, CNBC, 27 Oct. 2025
There was also a coaching confrontation, as Woodward reportedly wanted to make changes to Kelly’s staff, which included axing offensive coordinator Joe Sloan.
—Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 27 Oct. 2025
The Rams dismissed Jay Norvell last weekend, a mere seven days after Oregon State axed Trent Bray.
—Jon Wilner, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Oct. 2025
The Times’ reporting did not include any information about axing jobs for active Amazon workers.
—Meghan Hall, Sourcing Journal, 22 Oct. 2025
According to the court filing, 2,050 positions would be axed.
—Natalie Neysa Alund, USA Today, 21 Oct. 2025
Amazon isn’t commenting on why it has been axed, news that The Nightly first reported over the weekend.
—Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 20 Oct. 2025
Battery storage systems, which are emissions-free energy sources, are also facing opposition; a Hamilton County proposal was axed this summer after the community pushed back.
—Sophie Hartley, IndyStar, 20 Oct. 2025
In the end, fired Red Wings Zamboni driver Al Sobotka was unable to convince a mostly younger jury that he was wrongfully axed for urinating in an ice drain at work due to a prostate issue, and that the company really wanted him out because of his age.
—Tresa Baldas, Freep.com, 16 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Axe.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/axe. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
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