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
Whether between film premieres or a post-Sundance reprieve, titans flock to the lodge for backcountry exploits like sporting clays, horseback riding, axe-throwing, and fly fishing — or opt to be whisked off to the private ski lounge. Elycia Rubin, HollywoodReporter, 27 Jan. 2026 There’s even a mold to make metal axe heads, a skill some archaeologists argued didn’t exist in Thailand 3,500 years ago. Teri Sforza, Oc Register, 24 Jan. 2026
Verb
That same story also suggested Samsung may axe its signature double-storage pre-order deal, which traditionally allowed users to upgrade from 256GB to 512GB at no extra cost. Janhoi McGregor, Forbes.com, 26 Jan. 2026 Mass deporting migrants, brazenly axing federal grants and jobs, pursuing an inflationary trade war, risking the lives of soldiers to trouble the sovereignty of hemispheric neighbors—these things are shaking the everyday lives of Americans. Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 20 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for ax
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ax
Noun
  • Several Maryland school systems announced early dismissals Friday as forecasters warned of worsening weather conditions later in the day.
    Todd Karpovich, Baltimore Sun, 6 Feb. 2026
  • That includes an unusual dismissal deal Garza reached last year with Austin police officer Karl Krycia.
    Austin Sanders, Austin American Statesman, 6 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Maye was sacked 21 times in the playoffs — the most ever for a QB in a single postseason.
    Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 10 Feb. 2026
  • With the fate of Palace’s previous two managers effectively sealed after defeats here, a loss would have seen Glasner eclipse Patrick Vieira’s 12-game winless run, a sequence which led to the Frenchman being sacked following this fixture three years ago.
    Matt Woosnam, New York Times, 9 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • The Falcons finished 8-9, leading to the firings of coach Raheem Morris and general manager Terry Fontenot.
    CBS News, CBS News, 8 Feb. 2026
  • And Denver now marches head-on into the offseason, coming off a year of inconsistent offense that resulted in the firing of previous offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi.
    Luca Evans, Denver Post, 7 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Payne intentionally fired four rounds at 25-year-old Kierra Lane, killing her at her Covington home with the pair's children present, prosecutors said at trial.
    Quinlan Bentley, Cincinnati Enquirer, 10 Feb. 2026
  • Payton’s longtime assistant, Lombardi was fired a few days after the Broncos’ AFC Championship Game loss.
    Jeff Zrebiec, New York Times, 9 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • Her medical furlough was initially to be for three weeks, but her time out of prison lengthened, possibly on account of activists and Western powers pushing Iran to keep her free.
    Jon Gambrell, Los Angeles Times, 8 Feb. 2026
  • When Mitchell was released on probation in 2024, he was ordered to attend college in Sacramento and participate in a weekend furlough from juvenile hall, court records show.
    Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 5 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Petrecca was thrust into the commentary role, replacing Auro Bulbarelli, who removed himself after spoiling the surprise arrival of Mattarella aboard one of the city’s trams.
    Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 10 Feb. 2026
  • According to him, real-world deployment is a key step to removing the practical and technological bottlenecks that humanoids face today.
    Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 10 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • After days of deliberations, the House justice committee voted to dismiss the impeachment complaints filed by left-wing activists and a lawyer against Marcos.
    JIM GOMEZ THE ASSOCIATED PRESS, Arkansas Online, 5 Feb. 2026
  • Saab denied the allegations and appealed to have the charges dismissed on grounds of diplomatic immunity.
    Landon Mion, FOXNews.com, 5 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • In 2018, Guthrie celebrated the fact that her brother had retired from military flying and had taken his final flight as an F-16 pilot.
    Edward Segarra, USA Today, 11 Feb. 2026
  • On the supply side, Baby Boomers are aging and retiring, population growth has slowed, and there’s been a sharp reduction in immigration and an increase in deportations.
    Alicia Wallace, CNN Money, 11 Feb. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Ax.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ax. Accessed 12 Feb. 2026.

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