ax 1 of 2

noun

ˈaks How to pronounce ax (audio)
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
as in to sack
to let go from office, service, or employment the boss will ax anyone who leaks company secrets

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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
The industry is likely on high alert right now less than a month after authorities said the co-pilot on a FlyDubai flight attacked the captain with an axe and tried to crash the plane before passengers intervened. — ABC News, 28 Oct. 2026 Mike Flanagan’s story loosely co-opts the villain origin tale behind many of those incarnations — actor with an ax to grind gains shapeshifting abilities — but otherwise starts more or less from scratch. — Guy Lodge, Variety, 21 Oct. 2026
Verb
Netflix is laying off around 1,000 employees, around 6% of its workforce, in what marks the company’s largest axing to date. — Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 14 Oct. 2026 Tasting Table also cited the chain's rewards program and its decision to axe the surcharge for dairy-free milk options. — Deirdre Bardolf, FOXNews.com, 3 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for ax
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ax
  1. dismissal
  2. sack
  3. firing
  4. fire
  5. furlough
  6. remove
  7. dismiss
  8. retire
Noun
  • All five students sought to appeal their dismissals but say that the university blocked access to their education records, which the students allege is a violation of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act.
    — Ciara McCarthy, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Oct. 2026
  • In Virginia, a judge’s finding that Lindsey Halligan was unlawfully appointed led to the dismissal of indictments against former FBI Director James Comey and New York Atty.
    — Brittny Mejia, Los Angeles Times, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of dismissal
Verb
  • Their chance to win the game on the snap from the 6 never had a chance as Mahomes was sacked.
    — Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 2 Nov. 2026
  • The next possession ended in a three-and-out as Osborne was sacked for a loss of nine on 3rd-and-1.
    — Joe Arruda, Hartford Courant, 1 Nov. 2026
Definition of sack
Noun
  • The crew can also operate the weapon system from a remote control unit up to meters away from the firing line.
    — Muskan Bhatia, Interesting Engineering, 1 Nov. 2026
  • No reason was given for the firing, the latest in a series of ousters or departures of military leaders under Hegseth.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of firing
Verb
  • And an incomplete pass was best-case scenario after Patrick Mahomes scrambled just to collect the ball and alertly fire it out of bounds.
    — Sam McDowell, Kansas City Star, 2 Nov. 2026
  • New England’s best arrived nine minutes later, when Raines fired high on a one-time chance from close range.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of fire
Noun
  • Layoffs, unpaid staff furloughs and school closures probably are ahead as the leaders downsize operations.
    — Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 16 Sep. 2026
  • Pilots, flight attendants and other aviation workers faced pay cuts and furloughs from the decrease in flyers.
    — Kathleen Wong, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of furlough
Verb
  • Meanwhile, On and Dior have also reportedly removed Chinese promotional content featuring Mbappé, although neither had announced a global termination, according to Chinese news outlet Phoenix.
    — Matthew Tan, CNBC, 28 Oct. 2026
  • That designation was removed last year by an outside counsel.
    — Kate Armanini, Chicago Tribune, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of remove
Verb
  • Bacelar disputed the accusations and said the lawsuit is filled with recycled claims that were previously litigated and dismissed.
    — Alene Tchekmedyian, Los Angeles Times, 28 Oct. 2026
  • Tyreek Hill was also a polarizing receiver who faced a 2014 domestic assault case that was dismissed and a 2019 child abuse probe, though no charges were filed.
    — Scott Thompson OutKick, FOXNews.com, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of dismiss
Verb
  • Megill retired Richie Palacios on a grounder to second to end it, threw his arms in the air and was mobbed by teammates near the mound while Brewers fans celebrated in the stands.
    — Rob Maaddi, Los Angeles Times, 29 Oct. 2026
  • Amid the onset of Parkinson’s disease, Lincoln retired from the museum in 2014.
    — Bob Goldsborough, Chicago Tribune, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of retire

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aw-shucks
ax
axed
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Cite this Entry

“Ax.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ax. Accessed 3 Nov. 2026.

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