as in sacking
to let go from office, service, or employment
the boss will ax anyone who leaks company secrets
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Recent Examples of axing
Amazon has been laying off staff en masse this year, axing over 16,000 employees in 2026 so far.
—
Will McCurdy, PC Magazine, 2 May 2026
The city is also contemplating axing more than 94 vacant jobs.
—Ishani Desai, Sacbee.com, 29 Apr. 2026
The biggest headline in Europe this week was German airline Lufthansa axing 20,000 flights through October.
—Jordan Blum, Fortune, 24 Apr. 2026
Membership perks are also changing, with the city axing unlimited play time for annual members and removing reserved tee times that were always set aside for several longstanding golf associations in the city.
—Michelle Marchante, Miami Herald, 17 Apr. 2026
Of course, dozens of companies have been axing staff and restructuring for a digital future, which is perhaps the BBC’s biggest challenge.
—Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 17 Apr. 2026
Yet a critical number of Republican lawmakers – wary of the long-term consequences of axing the filibuster when a Democrat is eventually back in the White House – have taken a hard stance to defend it.
—Zachary Schermele, USA Today, 17 Mar. 2026
Other states would reap similar benefits from axing their income tax.
—Betsy McCaughey, Boston Herald, 16 Mar. 2026
Mass deporting migrants, brazenly axing federal grants and jobs, pursuing an inflationary trade war, risking the lives of soldiers to trouble the sovereignty of hemispheric neighbors—these things are shaking the everyday lives of Americans.
—Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 20 Jan. 2026
Will McCurdy, PC Magazine, 2 May 2026
The city is also contemplating axing more than 94 vacant jobs.
—Ishani Desai, Sacbee.com, 29 Apr. 2026
The biggest headline in Europe this week was German airline Lufthansa axing 20,000 flights through October.
—Jordan Blum, Fortune, 24 Apr. 2026
Membership perks are also changing, with the city axing unlimited play time for annual members and removing reserved tee times that were always set aside for several longstanding golf associations in the city.
—Michelle Marchante, Miami Herald, 17 Apr. 2026
Of course, dozens of companies have been axing staff and restructuring for a digital future, which is perhaps the BBC’s biggest challenge.
—Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 17 Apr. 2026
Yet a critical number of Republican lawmakers – wary of the long-term consequences of axing the filibuster when a Democrat is eventually back in the White House – have taken a hard stance to defend it.
—Zachary Schermele, USA Today, 17 Mar. 2026
Other states would reap similar benefits from axing their income tax.
—Betsy McCaughey, Boston Herald, 16 Mar. 2026
Mass deporting migrants, brazenly axing federal grants and jobs, pursuing an inflationary trade war, risking the lives of soldiers to trouble the sovereignty of hemispheric neighbors—these things are shaking the everyday lives of Americans.
—Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 20 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for axing
Verb
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But so far the government has decided not to intervene by sacking him and backpedalling on allowing Russia to participate.—
Nick Vivarelli,
Variety,
6 May 2026
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Any hope that Liam Rosenior’s sacking 12 days ago would spark an upturn, especially after their FA Cup semi-final victory over Leeds United, have been brought back to reality.—
Simon Johnson,
New York Times,
4 May 2026
Verb
-
Allow these to regrow and form new plants after removing all the dead.—
Tom MacCubbin,
The Orlando Sentinel,
10 May 2026
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On Saturday, that included removing Jake LaRavia from the rotation entirely as rookie forward Adou Thiero became the Lakers’ third player off the bench and veteran big man Maxi Kleber moved into the rotation as the ninth option.—
Benjamin Royer,
Oc Register,
10 May 2026
Verb
-
Bangladesh was bowled out for 413 in its first innings, before taking a 27-run lead, dismissing Pakistan for 386 with offspinner Mehidy Hasan taking five wickets.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
12 May 2026
-
On Friday, Makary was privately dismissing the reports of his imminent ouster as false, those people said.—
Sarah Owermohle,
CNN Money,
8 May 2026
Verb
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By the time officers arrived, the situation had escalated into what officials described as an active shooter incident, with the suspect walking down the middle of Memorial Drive and firing in an erratic manner as traffic came to a halt.—
Greg Wehner,
FOXNews.com,
12 May 2026
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Iran retaliated by firing missiles and drones at the United Arab Emirates, an ally of the United States and Israel, including at its energy infrastructure.—
Sudarsan Raghavan,
New Yorker,
12 May 2026
Verb
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The plan also describes major changes to the fleet, such as adding many autonomous ships, buying new submarines, and retiring older aircraft carriers and submarines.—
Sujita Sinha,
Interesting Engineering,
12 May 2026
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While the San Francisco 49ers rookies practiced Friday, Williams was busy on the far north side of the field, doing side-to-side movements and working with resistance bands for 35 minutes before retiring to the team’s weight room.—
Matt Barrows,
New York Times,
11 May 2026
Verb
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Gary Stern, who served as general counsel of the National Archives for twenty-six years, collaborated with five Administrations—from Bill Clinton’s to Joe Biden’s—on preserving and releasing Presidential records.—
Ruth Marcus,
New Yorker,
14 May 2026
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For the record, Achane probably can’t sign a contract extension until June 2, at the earliest, when the Dolphins get money freed up from releasing edge rusher Bradley Chubb, who was designated as a June 1 cut.—
Chris Perkins,
Sun Sentinel,
13 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Axing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/axing. Accessed 15 May. 2026.
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