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)
see also:
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
John Atkinson, Chicago Tribune, 2 Mar. 2026
Both yachts Nutkis purchased showcase the same aerodynamic silhouette and sharp axe bow, with exteriors designed in collaboration with Guido de Groot.
—Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 27 Feb. 2026
Maybe some international divisions could see the axe.
—Brian Welk, IndieWire, 27 Feb. 2026
By licensing the Stan Patrol 6009 hull – which shares its axe-bow design with around 300 vessels already afloat – the Liberty Class benefits from a pre-validated platform, potentially saving years of hull development and testing.
—New Atlas, 25 Feb. 2026
Disc golf, lawn games, archery, and axe throwing offer other opportunities for a little family competition, while fire pits and s’mores kits make for a sweet way to end to the day.
—Beth Luberecki, USA Today, 21 Feb. 2026
Carroll County needs leadership, not submissive accountants dutifully sharpening the axe.
—Randy Linville, Baltimore Sun, 9 Feb. 2026
But there’s no axe to grind, no palpable feelings of hatred on the pages, even towards Kelly.
—Cheyenne Roundtree, Rolling Stone, 31 Jan. 2026
Today, legitimacy, that invisible prop of authority, is endangered like never before, as unjust hierarchies become too visible to ignore, and custodians of the status quo have taken an axe to their own prestige.
—Sean Williams, Harpers Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
Angela Hart, Los Angeles Times, 9 Mar. 2026
What essential services will potentially be cut or axed to cover the lost revenue to the state from this corporate giveaway?
—Dp Opinion, Denver Post, 9 Mar. 2026
After a two-hour hearing, visiting Judge David Wahlberg formally axed the indictment against Mejia for murder and injury to a child.
—Austin Sanders, Austin American Statesman, 9 Mar. 2026
So far in 2026, several major players in the cartel world have been axed.
—Molly Parks, The Washington Examiner, 7 Mar. 2026
That means in a few years Fort Lauderdale might be in the hole for about $100 million, depending on if Florida voters axe the property tax, Sorensen said.
—Amanda Rosa, Miami Herald, 7 Mar. 2026
So, who was axed in the second episode?
—Bebe Hodges, Cincinnati Enquirer, 5 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
The past two years, the Sacramento City Council raised parking fees and axed dozens of vacant positions to help balance its multimillion-dollar budget deficits.
—Ishani Desai, Sacbee.com, 4 Mar. 2026
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Noun
These assumptions were amplified on the national stage last year when the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) took an axe to the federal workforce.
—John Atkinson, Chicago Tribune, 2 Mar. 2026
Both yachts Nutkis purchased showcase the same aerodynamic silhouette and sharp axe bow, with exteriors designed in collaboration with Guido de Groot.
—Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 27 Feb. 2026
Maybe some international divisions could see the axe.
—Brian Welk, IndieWire, 27 Feb. 2026
By licensing the Stan Patrol 6009 hull – which shares its axe-bow design with around 300 vessels already afloat – the Liberty Class benefits from a pre-validated platform, potentially saving years of hull development and testing.
—New Atlas, 25 Feb. 2026
Disc golf, lawn games, archery, and axe throwing offer other opportunities for a little family competition, while fire pits and s’mores kits make for a sweet way to end to the day.
—Beth Luberecki, USA Today, 21 Feb. 2026
Carroll County needs leadership, not submissive accountants dutifully sharpening the axe.
—Randy Linville, Baltimore Sun, 9 Feb. 2026
But there’s no axe to grind, no palpable feelings of hatred on the pages, even towards Kelly.
—Cheyenne Roundtree, Rolling Stone, 31 Jan. 2026
Today, legitimacy, that invisible prop of authority, is endangered like never before, as unjust hierarchies become too visible to ignore, and custodians of the status quo have taken an axe to their own prestige.
—Sean Williams, Harpers Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
Verb
Congress largely rejected those cuts last month, although funding for programs focusing on social drivers of health, such as access to food, housing and education, were axed.
—Angela Hart, Los Angeles Times, 9 Mar. 2026
What essential services will potentially be cut or axed to cover the lost revenue to the state from this corporate giveaway?
—Dp Opinion, Denver Post, 9 Mar. 2026
After a two-hour hearing, visiting Judge David Wahlberg formally axed the indictment against Mejia for murder and injury to a child.
—Austin Sanders, Austin American Statesman, 9 Mar. 2026
So far in 2026, several major players in the cartel world have been axed.
—Molly Parks, The Washington Examiner, 7 Mar. 2026
That means in a few years Fort Lauderdale might be in the hole for about $100 million, depending on if Florida voters axe the property tax, Sorensen said.
—Amanda Rosa, Miami Herald, 7 Mar. 2026
So, who was axed in the second episode?
—Bebe Hodges, Cincinnati Enquirer, 5 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
The past two years, the Sacramento City Council raised parking fees and axed dozens of vacant positions to help balance its multimillion-dollar budget deficits.
—Ishani Desai, Sacbee.com, 4 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Axe.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/axe. Accessed 13 Mar. 2026.
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