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

Doing this in two axes, the study is the first to achieve quantum-limited alignment of the rotor’s orientation, where its direction is uncertain within only 20 microrad. —Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 6 Apr. 2026

To control their descent, they’re given ice axes to dig into the snow as a brake. —Jordan Greene, PEOPLE, 1 Apr. 2026

Pete Hegseth axes investigation into Apache flyover at Kid Rock's mansion. —FOXNews.com, 1 Apr. 2026

On this day in 1863 more than 100 women armed with knives, axes, and pistols marched to Richmond, Virginia’s capitol to demand a meeting with the governor. —Encyclopedia Britannica, 31 Mar. 2026

Approximately 4,200 ice axes were sold in the United States, with an additional 1,160 sold in Canada. —Amanda Greenwood, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Mar. 2026

Hiking with a nine-time Everest guide who outfits us with ice axes, ropes, harnesses, and crampons and leads us up a spur—where no other people have been this season—for our own bite-size moment of glory. —Laura Dannen Redman, Robb Report, 29 Mar. 2026

This device is a high-tech centrifuge that simulates microgravity by spinning vials with samples around two axes, effectively confusing the cells inside as to their position in space. —Tereza Pultarova, Space.com, 27 Mar. 2026

There was a soft one that didn’t melt, and there were real metal axes that were sharp and not sharp. —Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 25 Mar. 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