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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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
as in sacks
to let go from office, service, or employment
the boss will ax anyone who leaks company secrets
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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show current usage.
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Recent Examples of axes
Evan Bush, NBC news, 15 Feb. 2026
Whether that’s going to see a show, tossing some axes, cuddling with some cats at a café or racing down the slopes, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.
—Heather Zidack, Hartford Courant, 15 Feb. 2026
Johannes is the de facto lead guitarist in the band, delivering impressive runs on a variety of axes.
—Jim Harrington, Mercury News, 4 Feb. 2026
Those weapons included firearms, tasers, axes, knives, baseball bats and flagpoles.
—Judy L. Thomas, Kansas City Star, 29 Jan. 2026
Some adventurous souls actually want to tempt gravity, using axes to climb frozen waterfalls or sheets of ice.
—Ginger Crichton, Midwest Living, 9 Jan. 2026
Continue reading … RELAUNCH HICCUP – CBS axes top 'Evening News' producer just days into broadcast revamp.
—FOXNews.com, 9 Jan. 2026
In this area, the team found a small patch of reddened sediment, about the size of a modest campfire, surrounded by two pyrites, 19 flints, and four broken hand axes, showing clear signs of heating.
—Jay Kakade
december 30, New Atlas, 30 Dec. 2025
Continued excavations turned up four stone hand axes that had been shattered by fire.
—Meghan Bartels, Scientific American, 10 Dec. 2025
Rachel Frazin, The Hill, 15 Aug. 2025
Noun
Those competitors carry gear such as avalanche transceivers, crampons, ice axes and climbing ropes.
—Evan Bush, NBC news, 15 Feb. 2026
Whether that’s going to see a show, tossing some axes, cuddling with some cats at a café or racing down the slopes, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.
—Heather Zidack, Hartford Courant, 15 Feb. 2026
Johannes is the de facto lead guitarist in the band, delivering impressive runs on a variety of axes.
—Jim Harrington, Mercury News, 4 Feb. 2026
Those weapons included firearms, tasers, axes, knives, baseball bats and flagpoles.
—Judy L. Thomas, Kansas City Star, 29 Jan. 2026
Some adventurous souls actually want to tempt gravity, using axes to climb frozen waterfalls or sheets of ice.
—Ginger Crichton, Midwest Living, 9 Jan. 2026
Continue reading … RELAUNCH HICCUP – CBS axes top 'Evening News' producer just days into broadcast revamp.
—FOXNews.com, 9 Jan. 2026
In this area, the team found a small patch of reddened sediment, about the size of a modest campfire, surrounded by two pyrites, 19 flints, and four broken hand axes, showing clear signs of heating.
—Jay Kakade
december 30, New Atlas, 30 Dec. 2025
Continued excavations turned up four stone hand axes that had been shattered by fire.
—Meghan Bartels, Scientific American, 10 Dec. 2025
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for axes
Verb
-
Manning, back for what is probably his final season, is on the short list of best returning quarterbacks in the country and edge rusher Colin Simmons won the SEC sacks title with 12.—
Cedric Golden,
Austin American Statesman,
3 Jan. 2026
-
Riley Moss sacks a scrambling Trevor Lawrence on third-and-4 for a 1-yard loss.—
Joe Nguyen,
Denver Post,
21 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
After catching Whitney showboating on CNN, Henry fires Jacob, their accountant on the take.—
Amanda Whiting,
Vulture,
16 Feb. 2026
-
Levi shoves someone just out of the frame, demands to know who threw stones, and later fires a shot, seemingly away from the crowd.—
Sam Metz,
Los Angeles Times,
16 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
This integration removes that blocker and positions XDC Network for institutional capital flows that weren't previously possible.—
Wyles Daniel,
USA Today,
27 Feb. 2026
-
Dawn Ultra is a top-selling dish liquid for the powerful formula that removes grease with ease.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Henry dismisses Yasmin but can’t shake the niggling feeling that his wife isn’t entirely wrong.—
Amanda Whiting,
Vulture,
16 Feb. 2026
-
Eduardo Bolsonaro dismisses concerns that the current electoral scenario could split the vote and lead to a first-round electoral victory for Lula.—
David Unsworth,
FOXNews.com,
14 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
In a show of power, the cartel frequently releases images of its members showing off weapons and armored vehicles.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
23 Feb. 2026
-
Every weekday, the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer releases the Homestretch — an actionable afternoon update, just in time for the last hour of trading on Wall Street.—
Jeff Marks,
CNBC,
23 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Lessentine leads off the inning hitting two Bruins in a row, but the Aggies defense retires three straight.—
Zoe Collins Rath,
Austin American Statesman,
22 Feb. 2026
-
Everyone shakes hands when a match ends and then retires to the bar, where the winners are supposed to buy the losers a beer.—
Dave Altimari,
Hartford Courant,
16 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Axes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/axes. Accessed 1 Mar. 2026.
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