AXE Synonyms: 58 Similar and Opposite Words

ax 1 of 2

noun

ˈaks

variants or axe

Definition of ax

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

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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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

At the resort, there’s a host of activities and amenities, including four golf courses with 10-18 holes each, bass fishing, axe throwing, pickleball, and more. — Megan Dubois, USA Today, 5 Sep. 2026 Elsewhere on the grounds, axe throwing is back, along with a shooting gallery and a fire pit for roasting s’mores. — Anne Gelhaus, Mercury News, 30 Aug. 2026

Verb

The popular Red, Hot & Boom event — one of the largest Independence Day fireworks shows in Central Florida — has grown too expensive and too large and should be axed from the city budget, Altamonte Springs officials say. — Martin E. Comas, The Orlando Sentinel, 24 Aug. 2026 Know More Schwartz took over in 2023 and axed any business in which Carlyle wasn’t or couldn’t be top-three. — Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 20 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for ax

Recent Examples of Synonyms for ax

Noun

Still, many parents picked up their children before dismissal.

— David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 17 Sep. 2026
Nazara, sworn in hours after Purbaya's dismissal, spent seven years as deputy finance minister and led the ministry's fiscal policy agency from 2015 to 2019.

— Anniek Bao, CNBC, 16 Sep. 2026

Definition of dismissal

Verb

Since 2020, Joe Burrow has been sacked a league-worst 10 percent of the time in openers and has lost four times, a league-high.

— Vic Tafur, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026
The Ducks sacked Madsen three times for 15 yards, but their defensive front didn’t show too much attacking intent.

— Idaho Statesman, Idaho Statesman, 8 Sep. 2026

Definition of sack

Noun

That was a stunner, but surely Michigan would come out firing and put the 2025 MAC champions away.

— Matt Reigle OutKick, FOXNews.com, 6 Sep. 2026
Conclusion Laser weapons offer rapid engagement, deep magazines, and significantly lower firing costs than many conventional defensive missiles.

— Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 5 Sep. 2026

Definition of firing

Verb

The suit says La Strada twice raised concerns with Hoskins, but his Capitol security badge then was deactivated before a hearing in the case and he was fired effective May 1.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 15 Sep. 2026
The crackdown — which included police firing tear gas at demonstrators — comes ahead of December’s general election in which President Adama Barrow will seek a controversial third term.

— Paige Bruton, semafor.com, 14 Sep. 2026

Definition of fire

Noun

Pilots, flight attendants and other aviation workers faced pay cuts and furloughs from the decrease in flyers.

— Kathleen Wong, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2026
Former employees said Monday was coincidentally the day their layoffs from the hospital became official after months of furlough.

— Lisa Schencker, Chicago Tribune, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of furlough

Verb

The reactor would produce substantial heat that engineers must remove from the vehicle.

— Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 16 Sep. 2026
For instance, Microsoft has committed not to use sensitive data that many companies leverage, such as information about gender, race, age, ZIP code that can be used to identify a person even if their name is removed.

— ABC News, ABC News, 15 Sep. 2026

Definition of remove

Verb

Dillard taught for more than 20 years at Wesleyan University before retiring in 2002.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 17 Sep. 2026
But Oprah Winfrey just shopped among others, recalls Eddie’s grandson, Mitchell, who worked at the store for 30 years and is now retired in Wellington.

— Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 16 Sep. 2026

Definition of retire

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aw-shucks

axed

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“Ax.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ax. Accessed 19 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of ax

noun

verb

Example Sentences

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