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
Several masked suspects then rush through the opening, including one who appears to be carrying an axe. — Stephen Sorace, FOXNews.com, 8 Oct. 2026 Smit Machchhar with a cabin axe before trying to take control of the aircraft’s flight controls, sending the plane plummeting. — Charlene Gubash, NBC news, 7 Oct. 2026
Verb
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 This is not the first lawsuit filed since UC Davis axed the varsity equestrian team in January. — Tarini Mehta, Sacbee.com, 29 Sep. 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
  • His lawyers, making the motion for dismissal, argued that Kuznietsov was still an active duty soldier and as such was obligated by Ukrainian law not to speak for reasons of secrecy linked to national security.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Even if Chili’s dismissal is unrelated, an ex-employee is a good place to start.
    — Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of dismissal
Verb
  • After Miami scored in the second OT period, Omar Thornton sacked Daniels on first down, forced an incompletion on second down, got FSU to commit a false start and forced another incompletion to set up fourth and 21.
    — Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 18 Oct. 2026
  • He was sacked five times as Texas lost consecutive regular-season games for the first time since 2021.
    — Mark Long, Chicago Tribune, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of sack
Noun
  • Things certainly aren’t going well when your defensive coordinator’s name is emblazoned across bedsheets hanging from your school’s fraternity windows, calling for his firing.
    — Noah White, Miami Herald, 18 Oct. 2026
  • Fear and loathing are running high as Hollywood processes Thursday’s shock firing of Bela Bajaria from her post as Netflix chief content officer.
    — Matt Donnelly, Variety, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of firing
Verb
  • While many of the more contentious and controversial aspects of his life are presented in one-sided fashion, friend and former manager Rory Holloway’s still-raw sense of betrayal at Tyson firing his entire team is evoked with vivid irritation.
    — Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Gillis was fired from SNL in 2019 for racist and homophobic comments, but has been invited back to host three times since.
    — Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 13 Oct. 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
  • The woman contacted her 72-year-old father, who came out of the house to remove Gonzalez.
    — Iris Kwok, Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2026
  • While no service can promise to remove all your data from the internet, a data removal service can monitor and automate the process of removing your information from hundreds of sites continuously over a longer period.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of remove
Verb
  • The stance has seen Newsom, who warns the passage of Prop 40 could see an exodus of the super rich from California, mocked and dismissed by fellow Democrats.
    — Dominic Patten, Deadline, 14 Oct. 2026
  • The complaint was ultimately dismissed, and Iowa's Republican leaders celebrated the ruling.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of dismiss
Verb
  • Nasser Barghouti, who is slightly leading Khan in large-dollar donations to American Priorities, simply stated that he is retired and residing in Dallas.
    — Mia Cathell, The Washington Examiner, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Speaking of bouncing back, the Saints have been looking for stability after legendary coach Jennie Kull retired following the 2022 season.
    — Paul Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of retire

Browse Nearby Words

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 19 Oct. 2026.

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