ax 1 of 2

variants or axe
Definition of axnext
as in dismissal
the termination of the employment of an employee or a work force often temporarily the company was hemorrhaging money, so 700 employees would soon be given the ax

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

ax

2 of 2

verb

variants or axe

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 ax
Noun
It was quickly captured and met the business end of a sharp axe. Torrey Snow, Baltimore Sun, 18 Mar. 2026 Bullseye, true to its name, is an axe-throwing speakeasy (limited to ages 13 and up). Kinsey Gidick, Travel + Leisure, 15 Mar. 2026
Verb
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 At the time, the National League reduced its number of teams from 12 to eight, as earlier versions of the Baltimore Orioles and Washington Senators, along with the Louisville Colonels, were also axed. Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 17 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for ax
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ax
Noun
  • Additionally, Redd filed a motion seeking the dismissal of the lawsuit for failure to state a claim.
    Todd Spangler, Variety, 27 Mar. 2026
  • The sentence followed a similar plea deal for her co-defendant and boyfriend, Dhante Jackson, who won the dismissal of murder and child abuse charges in October of last year in exchange for a no contest plea on a lone accessory count.
    Jakob Rodgers, Mercury News, 26 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • He was sacked a league-leading 55 times and threw the most interceptions (17) while the Raiders finished tied for the worst record (3-14).
    Antwan Staley, New York Daily News, 31 Mar. 2026
  • Some vocal Brighton supporters called for Hurzeler to be sacked after a 1-0 home defeat by rivals Crystal Palace on February 8.
    Andy Naylor, New York Times, 30 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • That tag is estimated at around $28 million against the cap, a significant one‑year cost but a price Dallas is apparently willing to pay to keep the offensive engine firing.
    Rowan Fisher-Shotton, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Mar. 2026
  • The six-minute five-second engine firing will boost the ship's velocity by about 900 mph, just enough to push it out of Earth's orbit to begin the four-day coast to the moon.
    William Harwood, CBS News, 30 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Once North Carolina fired Hubert Davis after five seasons, Billy Donovan immediately rose to the top of the list of favorites to become the next head coach of the storied program.
    Matthew Couden, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2026
  • One of the reasons American troops would be vulnerable on Kharg Island is its close proximity to the Iranian mainland, from which missiles, drones and artillery could be fired.
    ABC News, ABC News, 31 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • The number of furlough days was determined by the employee's salary.
    Brian Maass, CBS News, 17 Mar. 2026
  • In February, the district voted to cut positions and add furlough days to further reduce its budget.
    Erick Trevino, AZCentral.com, 13 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • In March 2021, then-House Speaker Kevin McCarthy tried to have Swalwell removed from the House Intelligence Committee over his contact with Fang, citing the same interactions now at the center of Patel's file review.
    Adeola Adeosun, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2026
  • In his community, Bustamante likened it to denouncing Catholicism and removing photos of the pope.
    ABC News, ABC News, 31 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Johnson dismissed the criticism.
    Jack Fink, CBS News, 27 Mar. 2026
  • Red flags worth walking away from include dismissing symptoms without investigation, attributing everything to stress or anxiety, discouraging second opinions and making patients feel rushed.
    Allison Palmer, Miami Herald, 26 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • But with Graves set to retire and not seek reelection, Kansas City stands on the brink of losing a seat at one of the most important tables in Congress.
    Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 1 Apr. 2026
  • Jose Franco retired five batters before leaving with two on.
    CBS News, CBS News, 31 Mar. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Ax.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ax. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.

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