Synonyms of axes

axes 1 of 3

noun (1)

plural of ax

as in dismissals

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• dismissals
• firings
• furloughs
• layoffs
• redundancies
• discharges
• boots
• sacks
• pink slips
• birds
• closings
• shutdowns
• bum's rushes
• shakeouts
• heave-hos
• shake-ups

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• callbacks
• recalls
• rehires
• reemployments

axes

2 of 3

noun (2)

plural of axis

1

as in centers

a thing or place that is of greatest importance to an activity or interest

in addition to being the suburb's social axis, the country club is the place where deals are made and partnerships are forged

Synonyms & Similar Words

• centers
• capitals
• hubs
• foci
• meccas
• bases
• nuclei
• hearts
• seats
• cores
• nexuses
• loci
• epicenters
• centrals
• playgrounds
• nerve centers
• headquarters
• navels
• ground zeros
• eyes
• cynosures
• omphali
• hot spots
• magnets
• kernels
• hives
• hotbeds
• nubs
• essences
• attractions
• lodestones
• piths
• thicks
• happy hunting grounds
• deeps
• playlands
• souls
• polestars
• quintessences

2

as in alliances

an association of persons, parties, or states for mutual assistance and protection

an axis of previously nonaligned nations

Synonyms & Similar Words

• alliances
• unions
• coalitions
• confederacies
• leagues
• federations
• combinations
• groups
• partnerships
• combines
• blocs
• confederations
• blocks
• organizations
• associations
• factions
• wings
• sides
• cartels
• fusions
• conspiracies
• fronts
• affiliations
• cooperatives
• cabals
• syndicates
• trusts
• conferences
• juntos
• circuits

axes

3 of 3

verb

present tense third-person singular of ax

as in sacks

to let go from office, service, or employment

the boss will ax anyone who leaks company secrets

Synonyms & Similar Words

• sacks
• fires
• removes
• dismisses
• releases
• retires
• cans
• discharges
• terminates
• turns off
• pink-slips
• excesses
• bounces
• musters out
• shows (someone) the door
• trims
• cashiers
• boots (out)
• lays off
• sends packing
• furloughs
• downsizes
• kicks out
• drums (out)
• separates
• throws out
• unseats
• chucks (out)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• employs
• signs (up or on)
• engages
• retains
• hires
• takes on
• keeps
• contracts
• recruits
• reemploys
• rehires
• subcontracts

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of axes

Noun

During one particularly violent encounter in June 2024, China Coast Guard personnel brandished axes at Philippine troops and slashed their rubber boats. — Ivan Watson, CNN Money, 24 July 2026

Traditional Papuan stone axes were more than utilitarian tools. — ABC News, 23 July 2026

Traditional Papuan stone axes, said the minister, were much more than utilitarian objects. — Anne Doran, ARTnews.com, 23 July 2026

But the moment did make it into the show as Cal and Liam both stripped down to their white tank tops to swing their axes in the sexy scene. — Sabienna Bowman, PEOPLE, 2 July 2026

Players walk down a narrow beam, timing their pace to maneuver between giant, erratically swinging (faux) axes. — Dewayne Bevil, The Orlando Sentinel, 25 June 2026

In each of these domains, the system is judged on two axes. — Anna Meadows, Forbes.com, 11 June 2026

Most magnetic microrobots operate with five degrees of freedom, allowing movement along three axes and rotation in two directions. — New Atlas, 8 June 2026

There are barbarians with battle axes and swords, robots with laser guns, spaceships, a warlock with a skull for a face. — Mike Ryan, IndieWire, 4 June 2026

Verb

The passed by Republicans last month axes the credits for projects that don’t begin producing electricity by 2028. — Rachel Frazin, The Hill, 15 Aug. 2025