Synonyms of ax

ax 1 of 2

noun

ˈaks 

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

• dismissal
• sack
• furlough
• firing
• discharge
• layoff
• closing
• boot
• redundancy
• pink slip
• shutdown
• heave-ho
• downsizing
• bird
• bum's rush
• shakeout
• shake-up

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• reemployment
• recall
• callback
• rehire
• rehiring

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• sack
• fire
• remove
• dismiss
• terminate
• release
• pink-slip
• can
• retire
• muster out
• turn off
• discharge
• bounce
• show (someone) the door
• excess
• furlough
• cashier
• lay off
• send packing
• trim
• downsize
• kick out
• drum (out)
• chuck (out)
• unseat
• boot (out)
• throw out
• separate

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• hire
• employ
• sign (up or on)
• engage
• retain
• keep
• take on
• contract
• rehire
• reemploy
• recruit
• subcontract

Examples of ax in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

But Marcus has more than just an axe to grind with generative AI. —Kate Irwin, PCMAG, 17 Sep. 2024

In welcome news after facing the axe at the 2026 Asian Games, cricket is set to be a late inclusion in the sports programme for next year's Southeast Asian Games in Thailand. —Tristan Lavalette, Forbes, 25 Sep. 2024

Verb

The largest share of cancellations were coming out of North Carolina’s Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT), which axed 140 outgoing flights. —Alison Fox, Travel + Leisure, 27 Sep. 2024

The form was finally axed in 2017, although many one-off events still require a Temporary Events Notice. —Mark Sutherland, Variety, 7 Oct. 2024