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.
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
Lauren Mowery, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2025
Her only ally is a mystical axe whose victims wind up as decapitated, talking heads.
—Ross Rosenfeld, Newsweek, 26 Feb. 2025
Aside from witnessing the chaotic competition, guests can witness and interact with alligators from Gatorland, try their hands at axe throwing, play knockerball (bubble soccer), attempt a Ninja Nation obstacle course and ride a mechanical gator.
—Patrick Connolly, Orlando Sentinel, 25 Feb. 2025
These are medical researchers, Grand Canyon Park Rangers, all of them right now, getting the axe.
—ABC News, 16 Feb. 2025
The host feigned confusion, grabbing a foam axe from under his desk.
—Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 28 Jan. 2025
To suggest that hateful, immoral behavior is being driven by a cabal of the Catholic Church wielding the axe of natural law is to engage in the very hate- and fearmongering that Schwartz seems to eschew.
—Chicago Tribune, 26 Jan. 2025
Trees and vegetation are always slumbering, helpless at the woodman’s axe or the casual munching of a ruminant.
—Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker, 20 Jan. 2025
In another scene, Oliver shoves Mallory, breaks a light fixture, and chases her with an axe.
—Federico Fahsbender, Rolling Stone, 11 Feb. 2025
Andy Rose and Maria Aguilar Prieto, CNN, 7 Mar. 2025
Seasonal employees got axed at times, but mass layoffs were relatively rare, as workers routinely stayed at a single company for much of their career.
—Mark Dent, thehustle.co, 7 Mar. 2025
Starbucks axed 13 drinks, says try these classics instead
Starbucks has given 13 drinks from its menu the chop, but the coffee giant affirms there are alternatives that can still satisfy customers.
—Francisco Velasquez, Quartz, 3 Mar. 2025
The abrupt move to axe the agency left many 18F employees in the lurch.
—Will McCurdy, PCMAG, 2 Mar. 2025
The series, which also stars Lowe’s son John Owen Lowe, premiered its second season on August 1 and was axed in October.
—Peter White, Deadline, 26 Feb. 2025
The congestion plan to reduce traffic and raise funds for New York's public transport was recently axed by President , potentially leading to the loss of millions in revenue for the city.
—Hugh Cameron, Newsweek, 20 Feb. 2025
An hour before kick off, however, the publishing of the starting line up showed that the Frenchman had been axed in favor of La Masia graduate Hector Fort.
—Tom Sanderson, Forbes, 19 Feb. 2025
As first broken by The Hollywood Reporter late last year, the studio axed a storyline involving a trans teammate, Kai (Chanel Stewart), over the objections of many Pixar staffers — keeping the character in the show, but reimagining her as cis.
—Angie Han, The Hollywood Reporter, 19 Feb. 2025
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Noun
Origin: Durango Class: Joven, Artisanal Milling: Hand pounded with an axe.
—Lauren Mowery, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2025
Her only ally is a mystical axe whose victims wind up as decapitated, talking heads.
—Ross Rosenfeld, Newsweek, 26 Feb. 2025
Aside from witnessing the chaotic competition, guests can witness and interact with alligators from Gatorland, try their hands at axe throwing, play knockerball (bubble soccer), attempt a Ninja Nation obstacle course and ride a mechanical gator.
—Patrick Connolly, Orlando Sentinel, 25 Feb. 2025
These are medical researchers, Grand Canyon Park Rangers, all of them right now, getting the axe.
—ABC News, 16 Feb. 2025
The host feigned confusion, grabbing a foam axe from under his desk.
—Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 28 Jan. 2025
To suggest that hateful, immoral behavior is being driven by a cabal of the Catholic Church wielding the axe of natural law is to engage in the very hate- and fearmongering that Schwartz seems to eschew.
—Chicago Tribune, 26 Jan. 2025
Trees and vegetation are always slumbering, helpless at the woodman’s axe or the casual munching of a ruminant.
—Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker, 20 Jan. 2025
In another scene, Oliver shoves Mallory, breaks a light fixture, and chases her with an axe.
—Federico Fahsbender, Rolling Stone, 11 Feb. 2025
Verb
At The Ohio State University, 16 staff positions will be axed as its Office of Diversity and Inclusion and its Center for Belonging and Social Change are disbanded, university spokesperson Benjamin Johnson told CNN.
—Andy Rose and Maria Aguilar Prieto, CNN, 7 Mar. 2025
Seasonal employees got axed at times, but mass layoffs were relatively rare, as workers routinely stayed at a single company for much of their career.
—Mark Dent, thehustle.co, 7 Mar. 2025
Starbucks axed 13 drinks, says try these classics instead
Starbucks has given 13 drinks from its menu the chop, but the coffee giant affirms there are alternatives that can still satisfy customers.
—Francisco Velasquez, Quartz, 3 Mar. 2025
The abrupt move to axe the agency left many 18F employees in the lurch.
—Will McCurdy, PCMAG, 2 Mar. 2025
The series, which also stars Lowe’s son John Owen Lowe, premiered its second season on August 1 and was axed in October.
—Peter White, Deadline, 26 Feb. 2025
The congestion plan to reduce traffic and raise funds for New York's public transport was recently axed by President , potentially leading to the loss of millions in revenue for the city.
—Hugh Cameron, Newsweek, 20 Feb. 2025
An hour before kick off, however, the publishing of the starting line up showed that the Frenchman had been axed in favor of La Masia graduate Hector Fort.
—Tom Sanderson, Forbes, 19 Feb. 2025
As first broken by The Hollywood Reporter late last year, the studio axed a storyline involving a trans teammate, Kai (Chanel Stewart), over the objections of many Pixar staffers — keeping the character in the show, but reimagining her as cis.
—Angie Han, The Hollywood Reporter, 19 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Axe.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/axe. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.
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