variants
or ax
plural axes
1
: a cutting tool that consists of a heavy edged head fixed to a handle with the edge parallel to the handle and that is used especially for felling trees and chopping and splitting wood
2
: a hammer with a sharp edge for dressing (see dress entry 1 sense 6e) or spalling stone
3
informal
a
: removal from office or release from employment : dismissal
—usually used with the
Employees with poor evaluations got the axe.
Trump quickly gave him the ax [=fired him] for his incompetence.—
Laura Petrecca
Laura Petrecca
b
: abrupt elimination or severe reduction of something
Unlimited expense accounts, signing bonuses, and office plants—all are getting the ax [=being cut or eliminated] thanks to corporate cost-cutting measures.—Amanda Hinnant
Amanda HinnantNo party was brave enough to offend its supporters by taking an axe to [=severely reducing] expenditure.—The Economist
The Economist4
slang
: any of several musical instruments (such as a guitar or a saxophone)
variants
or ax
axed; axing; axes
1
a
: to shape, dress (see dress entry 1 sense 6e), or trim with an axe
axe stone
b
: to chop, split, or sever with an axe
axe branches from a tree
2
informal
: to remove abruptly (as from employment or from a budget)
The TV program was axed from the new schedule.
Synonyms
Examples of axe in a Sentence
Noun
the company was hemorrhaging money, so 700 employees would soon be given the ax
Verb
The boss told him that he had been axed.
the boss will ax anyone who leaks company secrets
Recent Examples on the Web
The Athletic College Football Staff, The Athletic, 26 Aug. 2024
Mini escape games and axe throwing round out the fun.
—Brittany Anas, Forbes, 23 Oct. 2024
In the next scene, the axe comes down on poor Amanda Thirsk, who is given the dressing down of all dressing downs by the queen’s private secretary.
—Jack King, Vulture, 20 Sep. 2024
At six feet six, with woodcutter’s biceps, Stanton can chop baseballs with such force that the sound resonates like an axe to a melon.
—Nicholas Dawidoff, The New Yorker, 26 Oct. 2024
How much does Satya Nadella earn While Nadella personally requested a 50% axe to one aspect of his total compensation, his overall package increased by more than $30 million compared to a year ago.
—Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 25 Oct. 2024
Oliver then grabs an axe and swings it, smashing the TV.
—Jessica Gelt, Los Angeles Times, 18 Oct. 2024
Casey had a long history of criminal record as he was arrested for beating his brother with an axe sledgehammer in 2012.
—Lea Veloso, StyleCaster, 26 Sep. 2024
Oliver raises the axe high in the air, shattering a chandelier.
—Jessica Gelt, Los Angeles Times, 18 Oct. 2024
Lily Ford, The Hollywood Reporter, 4 Nov. 2024
Payne was axed from the show but, undaunted, returned to audition again two years later.
—August Brown, Los Angeles Times, 1 Nov. 2024
To be sure, Shell has also axed some fossil fuel holdings, such as agreeing to sell its Bukom oil refinery in Singapore.
—Byprarthana Prakash, Fortune Europe, 23 Oct. 2024
Jassy has axed several projects, including a telehealth service, video-calling device for kids and a roving Treasure Truck.
—Annie Palmer, CNBC, 22 Oct. 2024
In a timely reminder that cancelations are never far away at Netflix HQ, the Jeff Goldblum-starrer was axed earlier this week, coming as a surprise to all and sundry.
—Max Goldbart, Deadline, 11 Oct. 2024
Likewise Howard University axed its relationship with Combs after a video appearing to show the rapper attacking Cassie in 2016 was released online.
—Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 2 Oct. 2024
Here's what fans can expect to see, from a second entrance to axing third-party ticket vendors.
—Arizona Republic, The Arizona Republic, 26 Oct. 2024
Perhaps cricket can stomach that axing, but potentially not being part of the 2026 Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, will sting.
—Tristan Lavalette, Forbes, 25 Oct. 2024
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Noun
Anyway, what record keeps Tony Elliott safe from the axe?
B
Brian H.
· Aug 26
The AerLinglus Kick Off Classic showed that GT apparently was able to build a defense in an off season.
—The Athletic College Football Staff, The Athletic, 26 Aug. 2024
Mini escape games and axe throwing round out the fun.
—Brittany Anas, Forbes, 23 Oct. 2024
In the next scene, the axe comes down on poor Amanda Thirsk, who is given the dressing down of all dressing downs by the queen’s private secretary.
—Jack King, Vulture, 20 Sep. 2024
At six feet six, with woodcutter’s biceps, Stanton can chop baseballs with such force that the sound resonates like an axe to a melon.
—Nicholas Dawidoff, The New Yorker, 26 Oct. 2024
How much does Satya Nadella earn While Nadella personally requested a 50% axe to one aspect of his total compensation, his overall package increased by more than $30 million compared to a year ago.
—Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 25 Oct. 2024
Oliver then grabs an axe and swings it, smashing the TV.
—Jessica Gelt, Los Angeles Times, 18 Oct. 2024
Casey had a long history of criminal record as he was arrested for beating his brother with an axe sledgehammer in 2012.
—Lea Veloso, StyleCaster, 26 Sep. 2024
Oliver raises the axe high in the air, shattering a chandelier.
—Jessica Gelt, Los Angeles Times, 18 Oct. 2024
Verb
Soon after, Top Gear was axed by the BBC after over four decades on television.
—Lily Ford, The Hollywood Reporter, 4 Nov. 2024
Payne was axed from the show but, undaunted, returned to audition again two years later.
—August Brown, Los Angeles Times, 1 Nov. 2024
To be sure, Shell has also axed some fossil fuel holdings, such as agreeing to sell its Bukom oil refinery in Singapore.
—Byprarthana Prakash, Fortune Europe, 23 Oct. 2024
Jassy has axed several projects, including a telehealth service, video-calling device for kids and a roving Treasure Truck.
—Annie Palmer, CNBC, 22 Oct. 2024
In a timely reminder that cancelations are never far away at Netflix HQ, the Jeff Goldblum-starrer was axed earlier this week, coming as a surprise to all and sundry.
—Max Goldbart, Deadline, 11 Oct. 2024
Likewise Howard University axed its relationship with Combs after a video appearing to show the rapper attacking Cassie in 2016 was released online.
—Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 2 Oct. 2024
Here's what fans can expect to see, from a second entrance to axing third-party ticket vendors.
—Arizona Republic, The Arizona Republic, 26 Oct. 2024
Perhaps cricket can stomach that axing, but potentially not being part of the 2026 Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, will sting.
—Tristan Lavalette, Forbes, 25 Oct. 2024
Dictionary Entries Near axe
Cite this Entry
“Axe.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/axe. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.
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