ax 1 of 2

noun

ˈaks How to pronounce ax (audio)
variants or axe
Definition of axnext
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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

ax

2 of 2

verb

variants or axe
as in to sack
to let go from office, service, or employment the boss will ax anyone who leaks company secrets

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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
His choice of weapon was unusual— not a knife or even an axe or a bat but his mouth. — Michael Loria, USA TODAY, 18 Mar. 2025 Jane, who may have been as young as 16, is shown blindfolded as an executioner with an axe waits to behead her. — Pan Pylas, Chicago Tribune, 9 Mar. 2025
Verb
Instead of redoubling decarbonization efforts, the U.S. and the European Union are rolling back climate laws, Canada is axing the consumer carbon tax, China and India are continuing to build coal plants, and corporations are exiting net zero climate commitments. — Nives Dolsak and Aseem Prakash, Forbes, 18 Mar. 2025 The Department of Veterans Affairs axed gender affirming care for transgender veterans, the latest in the Trump administration's push to eradicate trans-inclusive policies from the federal government. — Cybele Mayes-Osterman, USA TODAY, 18 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for ax
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ax
  1. dismissal
  2. sack
  3. furlough
  4. fire
  5. remove
  6. dismiss
  7. terminate
  8. release
Noun
  • Anti-SLAPP laws are statutes that provide a substantive right of a person to an early dismissal of causes of action brought against them with the effect of silencing or punishing their First Amendment (and corresponding state constitutional) rights to freedom of speech and to petition.
    — Jay Adkisson, Forbes.com, 27 Mar. 2025
  • Strickland also revealed that other WWE personnel had informed him this member had generated significant backstage heat, likely contributing to their collective dismissal.
    — Paul Du Quenoy, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Mar. 2025
Definition of dismissal
Verb
  • Also sacked Thursday was Gen. Timothy D. Haugh, who led both the NSA and U.S. Cyber Command, and his deputy, Wendy Noble, who has reportedly been reassigned within the Pentagon.
    — Colin Meyn, The Hill, 4 Apr. 2025
  • He was sacked a whopping 68 times, with the next highest being C.J. Stroud with 52.
    — Jason D. Greenblatt, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Apr. 2025
Definition of sack
Noun
  • On Wednesday, the administration ramped up its pressure on employees to leave, sending a reminder that layoffs or furloughs could come next.
    — CHRIS MEGERIAN, TIME, 6 Feb. 2025
  • On Wednesday, Lopez was sentenced to probation, with a six-year prison sentence suspended for five years, and ordered to complete a work furlough program after pleading guilty to DUI causing injury and having a blood-alcohol content of over 0.15%.
    — Christian Martinez, The Mercury News, 20 Mar. 2025
Definition of furlough
Verb
  • Smith stressed that no shots were fired during the incident.
    — Glenn Garner, Deadline, 29 Mar. 2025
  • On the last day of the season, when the apprentices had been winnowed from 16 to two, then-emcee Donald Trump fired Annie on national television in favor of the comedienne Joan Rivers.
    — Richard Lederer, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Mar. 2025
Definition of fire
Verb
  • Following the act of protest, the referee of the University of Maryland match -- which was not an NCAA tournament -- issued a black card to Turner, removing her from the competition.
    — Leah Sarnoff, ABC News, 4 Apr. 2025
  • Karl Mitchell is speaking with PEOPLE after officials in Nevada seized his seven tigers on Wednesday Comments Authorities in Nevada removed seven tigers from a residence in Parumph early Wednesday morning.
    — Chris Spargo, People.com, 3 Apr. 2025
Definition of remove
Verb
  • The company filed two motions to dismiss the case, one for lack of jurisdiction and the other on grounds that consumer fraud laws do not govern editorial speech.
    — Todd Spangler, Variety, 7 Apr. 2025
  • The Trump administration is investigating government lawyers who prosecuted Jan. 6 rioters — and will do the same for prosecutors who refused to dismiss corruption charges against Mayor Eric Adams of New York.
    — Michael S. Schmidt, New York Times, 7 Apr. 2025
Definition of dismiss
Verb
  • One such deal, with Florida’s O Cinema, located at the Miami Beach Historic City Hall, resulted in the mayor of Miami Beach threatening to terminate an independent theater’s lease and financial support.
    — Adam Benzine, HollywoodReporter, 27 Mar. 2025
  • The decision to terminate Taylor comes less than one week after ESPN reported that Taylor has been investigated twice for inappropriate behavior directed at female staff members.
    — Jon Wilner, The Mercury News, 26 Mar. 2025
Definition of terminate
Verb
  • Of the 83 songs featured on these seven albums, 74 have never been released in any form.
    — Justin Porter, New York Times, 4 Apr. 2025
  • McFarland previously pleaded guilty to fraud charges related to the disastrous first Fyre Festival and was released from prison in 2022 after serving less than four years.
    — Tomás Mier, Rolling Stone, 4 Apr. 2025
Definition of release

Browse Nearby Words

aw-shucks
ax
axed
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Cite this Entry

“Ax.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ax. Accessed 10 Apr. 2025.

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More from Merriam-Webster on ax

Nglish: Translation of ax for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about ax

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