ax 1 of 2

variants or axe
as in dismissal
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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

ax

2 of 2

verb

variants or axe

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of ax
Noun
As Trump passes the 60-day mark of his second term, he’s taken an axe to many long-standing federal agencies, cutting hundreds of thousands of jobs and upending programs both domestically and internationally for cost-saving benefits. Lauren Irwin, The Hill, 27 Mar. 2025 The Trump Administration could trim twigs from its org chart, or take an axe and lop off entire limbs, erasing whole offices. David W. Brown, The New Yorker, 21 Mar. 2025
Verb
Lopez’s committee on Thursday also rolled out a budget proposal for agencies, including the Department of Management Services, that targeted Allende’s salary and axed the positions of a handful of his top aides. Dara Kam, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 Mar. 2025 By February 2024, the airline had axed its entire schedule to Tulum. Zach Wichter, USA Today, 27 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for ax
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ax
Noun
  • For years, Chicago Public School officials would send dozens of names of problematic employees to monthly board meetings for their dismissals to be signed off on.
    Nell Salzman, Chicago Tribune, 18 Apr. 2025
  • The order included full pardons of those already sentenced, commutations of sentences of 14 Proud Boys and Oath Keepers and the dismissal of all pending cases.
    Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 18 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • The system favoured by the new Coach appears to have no space for the Brazil native, who has played just four minutes since Thiago Motta was sacked.
    Adam Digby, Forbes.com, 29 Apr. 2025
  • The vast majority are unceremoniously sacked after losing their grip.
    Phil Hay, New York Times, 28 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Having a clear message, even one that feels polarizing, has served the brand well, as has a prudent application of furlough, to the tune of one week every two months, of 15 percent of its workforce in a bid to keep talents in the company while saving costs.
    Lily Templeton, Footwear News, 17 Apr. 2025
  • Failure to agree on a deal by Friday at midnight would have resulted in federal workers going on furlough and not receiving pay, while nonessential government functions would have been put on pause.
    Mark Davis, Newsweek, 14 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Remembering Molly Elliott, killed by Louisiana Death Row inmate Their killer is facing execution by firing squad.
    Amanda Lee Myers, USA Today, 23 Apr. 2025
  • The sheriff’s office did not release details of what prompted the deputies to fire their weapons and did not say how many deputies were involved.
    David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 22 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • He's promised to remove taxes on tips, overtime and Social Security, and continue tax cuts that primarily benefited the wealthy, passed during his first term.
    Trevor Hughes, USA Today, 28 Apr. 2025
  • But DeShields has struggled to find consistent minutes since undergoing spinal surgery to remove a tumor in 2019, then suffering a knee injury that sidelined her for the entire 2023 season.
    Emily Adams, Hartford Courant, 27 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Heyman dismissed fans on social media who have failed to give Rollins his flowers, saying he’s seen pro wrestlers fail in the ring and seen praise on social media for them while others spout nonsense while ignoring historical facts.
    Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 19 Apr. 2025
  • On March 4, the day the order to show cause was to be heard, the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office dismissed the case.
    Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 19 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Support for the World Food Program Continues, while Funds Benefiting Terrorist Groups Ends USAID has terminated less than 15% of WFP awards, maintaining over 100 active programs with WFP, a key partner.
    Ted Koppel, CBS News, 20 Apr. 2025
  • At least 47 grants that NCI awarded were terminated in the first month.
    Rae Ellen Bichell and Rachana Pradhan, Miami Herald, 20 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • August reservations will be released on July 1 and so on.
    Eve Chen, USA Today, 29 Apr. 2025
  • No other information about the incident was released.
    David Matthews, New York Daily News, 29 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Ax.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ax. Accessed 3 May. 2025.

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