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
Canal+ has made a big early decision as the new owner of MultiChoice by axing loss-making streamer Showmax.
—
Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 4 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
Dodge, still suffering the consequences of axing the popular previous generations of Charger and Challenger muscle cars, saw sales stumble down 28% compared with the previous year.
—Liam Rappleye, USA Today, 8 Jan. 2026
Year 2 of ShoddyBall should be better than Year 1, but the 2025 team revealed so many weaknesses, needs and holes that axing a defensive coordinator is only going to get you so far.
—Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Jan. 2026
Since then, his administration has proposed axing regulations on coal and gas power plants.
—Rachel Frazin, The Hill, 28 Dec. 2025
Mekies took over after Christian Horner’s surprise axing following this year’s British GP and quickly earned the respect of not just critical pieces of the Red Bull squad (aka Verstappen’s camp), but also many outside F1 observers.
—Alex Kalinauckas, New York Times, 24 Dec. 2025
Intel’s big new Ohio chip fab is delayed until at least 2030, and Tan has made major cost cuts by slashing 15% of the workforce in July and axing projects in Germany and Poland.
—Katie Tarasov, CNBC, 19 Dec. 2025
There was also a coaching confrontation, as Woodward reportedly wanted to make changes to Kelly’s staff, which included axing offensive coordinator Joe Sloan.
—Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 27 Oct. 2025
Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 4 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
Dodge, still suffering the consequences of axing the popular previous generations of Charger and Challenger muscle cars, saw sales stumble down 28% compared with the previous year.
—Liam Rappleye, USA Today, 8 Jan. 2026
Year 2 of ShoddyBall should be better than Year 1, but the 2025 team revealed so many weaknesses, needs and holes that axing a defensive coordinator is only going to get you so far.
—Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Jan. 2026
Since then, his administration has proposed axing regulations on coal and gas power plants.
—Rachel Frazin, The Hill, 28 Dec. 2025
Mekies took over after Christian Horner’s surprise axing following this year’s British GP and quickly earned the respect of not just critical pieces of the Red Bull squad (aka Verstappen’s camp), but also many outside F1 observers.
—Alex Kalinauckas, New York Times, 24 Dec. 2025
Intel’s big new Ohio chip fab is delayed until at least 2030, and Tan has made major cost cuts by slashing 15% of the workforce in July and axing projects in Germany and Poland.
—Katie Tarasov, CNBC, 19 Dec. 2025
There was also a coaching confrontation, as Woodward reportedly wanted to make changes to Kelly’s staff, which included axing offensive coordinator Joe Sloan.
—Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 27 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for axing
Verb
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So Green can go back to sad-sacking and triple-singling starting Saturday against the Thunder, and certainly Monday against the Jazz.—
Dieter Kurtenbach,
Mercury News,
6 Mar. 2026
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Getty Images Tottenham Hotspur are searching for their eighth manager/head coach (interim and permanent) since 2019 after sacking Thomas Frank on Wednesday amid a run of two wins in 17 Premier League games.—
Anantaajith Raghuraman,
New York Times,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The Sheriff’s Office committed to removing tie-off points from its jails but has not yet completed those renovations.—
Jeff McDonald,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
15 Mar. 2026
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In the new year, Musk welcomed Hegseth to a meeting at SpaceX headquarters, where Hegseth unveiled a new partnership with Grok, which lately had been spending most of its time removing the clothes of women and children in photographs.—
Gideon Lewis-Kraus,
New Yorker,
14 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Despite the extraordinary decision, Mejia remained in custody while the case returned to Travis County — where was convicted and sentenced to life in prison — for the final legal step of dismissing the charges.—
Austin Sanders,
Austin American Statesman,
9 Mar. 2026
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In February, Judge Arun Subramanian handed down a summary judgment dismissing that claim.—
Walden Green,
Pitchfork,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Three teenagers have also been charged in the shooting, including a 15-year-old who, in July 2024, was ordered to serve a term at a state facility for youths after admitting to the charges of unlawful use of a weapon and knowingly discharging or firing a firearm at a person.—
Laura Bauer,
Kansas City Star,
11 Mar. 2026
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The United Arab Emirates said early Wednesday that its air defenses were firing at incoming Iranian fire.—
DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE STAFF FROM WIRE REPORTS,
Arkansas Online,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Liu won the 2025 World title last March, less than a year after returning to the sport after retiring days after the 2022 Olympic Games in Beijing.—
Scott M. Reid,
Oc Register,
11 Mar. 2026
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The deal comes two days after the Chargers signed veteran center Tyler Biadasz to take over for the retiring Bradley Bozeman.—
Senior Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Last year, more than a third of artists making $10,000 on the platform in royalties started by self-releasing their music through independent distributors.—
Cerys Davies,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Mar. 2026
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Images show a diffuse coma and faint dust tail created as sunlight heats the comet's ices, releasing gas and dust into space.—
Samantha Mathewson,
Space.com,
11 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Axing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/axing. Accessed 18 Mar. 2026.
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