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
Studies indicate that the nation’s CEOs are now getting the ax with surprising frequency – one reflection of Trump-era disruptions. Peter Bart, Deadline, 26 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
Verb
In recent weeks, Baker McKenzie, a white-shoe law firm, axed 700 employees, Salesforce sacked hundreds of workers, and the auditing firm KPMG negotiated lower fees with its own auditor. Annie Lowrey, The Atlantic, 18 Feb. 2026 Films have been censored, and theater plays axed. Andy Browne, semafor.com, 16 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for ax
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ax
Noun
  • Eighteen California youths appealed a court’s dismissal of their climate discrimination lawsuit against the EPA.
    Blanca Begert, Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2026
  • Still, John is now facing a dismissal hearing.
    Judy Berman, Time, 5 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Last year, the Eagles sacked Patrick Mahomes six times in Philadelphia’s 40-22 victory over the Chiefs.
    ABC News, ABC News, 7 Mar. 2026
  • Rumors Tuttle was on verge of being sacked first surfaced on February 26 after Conservative tabloid newspaper Bild reported Weimer had called an extraordinary meeting to discuss her future as festival director.
    Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 6 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • But amid mass firings and shifting priorities, that role has waned.
    Collin Binkley, Los Angeles Times, 10 Mar. 2026
  • There just really simply has to be firings.
    Mary Murphy, Twin Cities, 9 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Hezbollah fired missiles deep into Israel, setting off air raid sirens in central Israel and its commercial hub Tel Aviv, as interception blasts sounded as far as Jerusalem.
    Thao Nguyen, USA Today, 10 Mar. 2026
  • Through geolocating and verifying seven images, Human Rights Watch said Israel fired white phosphorus using artillery at residential areas in the southern Lebanese village of Yohmor.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 10 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • For non-union employees, such as principals, assistant principals, district-level administrators and executive secretaries, furloughs are allowed.
    Scott Travis, Sun Sentinel, 24 Feb. 2026
  • The airline also instituted furloughs and job cuts before its first bankruptcy filing.
    ABC News, ABC News, 24 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Order 1 dissolved the ruling Baath Party and removed all senior party members from their government positions, purging the administrative class that ran its ministries, hospitals and schools.
    Farah N. Jan, The Conversation, 10 Mar. 2026
  • The spokesperson said that Rodriguez Gutierrez chose to be removed with her children on March 5.
    Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 10 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • However, these picture-perfect images are often dismissed as advertisements that ignore the far less glamorous issues in the destination, including human rights abuses.
    Tamara Hardingham-Gill, CNN Money, 6 Mar. 2026
  • Prosecutors dismissed doxxing charges in the Baldwin Park case after a Homeland Security investigator told the court the address that protesters shouted on the livestream was a few houses away from where Reyes lived.
    James Queally, Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Flores issued a one-out walk and another single in the sixth inning, but the second-year right-hander retired two straight HCU batters to get out of the jam.
    Danny Davis, Austin American Statesman, 3 Mar. 2026
  • Even as her hard-line tactics have shown some success, Sheinbaum has not renounced the precepts of López Obrador, who, while retired, remains a revered and influential figure.
    Kate Linthicum, Los Angeles Times, 3 Mar. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Ax.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ax. Accessed 11 Mar. 2026.

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