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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for axing
Verb
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The confrontation went viral in December 2024, as cameras captured Gastineau confronting Favre in 2023 over Michael Strahan sacking the Green Bay Packers legend to break Gastineau's single-season sack record.—
Ryan Morik,
FOXNews.com,
17 Mar. 2026
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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
Verb
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He is then seen slowly approaching the victim, checking his surroundings, and removing his shoes before grabbing her from behind.—
Ana Maria Soler,
CBS News,
11 Apr. 2026
-
The surgery involved removing 40 percent of Erbert's skull and required a follow-up skull implant surgery, per the Los Angeles Times.—
Chanel Vargas,
InStyle,
11 Apr. 2026
Verb
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In October, Superior Court Judge Judy Bae granted LCLJ’s motion, dismissing the city’s lawsuit and allowing LAFCO to move to the next steps in the process.—
Noah Lyons,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
11 Apr. 2026
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But dismissing it as fusty would be an unfortunate act of self-deprivation.—
Rachel Howard,
San Francisco Chronicle,
11 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The plea came just weeks after her husband, John Reilly III, was found guilty of assault for firing at the driver's car as the man was trying to leave their property in May 2025.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
14 Apr. 2026
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Operators remain inside an armored vehicle to avoid exposure during firing.—
Sujita Sinha,
Interesting Engineering,
14 Apr. 2026
Verb
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More In 2018, Xcel Energy was the first energy company to commit to being 100% carbon free, with plans to build up wind, geothermal, solar, and storage while retiring its coal plants.—
Steve Gelsi,
semafor.com,
14 Apr. 2026
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During his final flight before retiring, the pilot reportedly flew the Boeing 757 extremely low over his hometown of Vestmannaeyjar, located off the southern coast of Iceland, without authorization from Icelandair.—
Natalia Senanayake,
PEOPLE,
14 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Authorities arrested Atajurt’s founder Serikzhan Bilash in 2019, releasing him into exile after extracting a promise not to engage in political activities.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
16 Apr. 2026
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The referrals came after Gabbard criticized how former Intelligence Community Inspector General Michael Atkinson handled the 2019 whistleblower complaint earlier this week, releasing a trove of documents linked to Atkinson.—
Jacob Rosen,
CBS News,
16 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Axing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/axing. Accessed 17 Apr. 2026.
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