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
Rebecca Nagle, The Atlantic, 1 Apr. 2025
That includes a big expansion of premium formats, to bars, eateries and activities from axe throwing to bowling that have been boosting regional chains.
—Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 31 Mar. 2025
The most high-profile landmark may be the home of Lizzie Borden, who was acquitted of murdering her parents with an axe.
—Steph Solis, Axios, 24 Mar. 2025
In his pursuit to find the one who killed Hector Ayala (Kamar de los Reyes) with a bullet emblazoned with the Punisher's skull insignia, Charlie Cox's blind attorney tracks down the Punisher himself — who nearly hacks off his head with an axe.
—Nick Romano, EW.com, 19 Mar. 2025
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
The axe falls After applying last September, Hudgins-Bradley got a final offer in December.
—Jonathan Shorman, Kansas City Star, 28 Feb. 2025
Others include 200 workers in airport security and 400 employees in the airspace industry who got the axe.
—Erin Mansfield, USA TODAY, 22 Feb. 2025
Filip Timotija, The Hill, 29 Mar. 2025
My Personal Information Copyright © 2025 Sun Sentinel Florida might bring back arts grants — with political oversight and new strings attached
Arts and culture grants may soon have a revival after Gov. Ron DeSantis axed them all last year.
—South Florida Sun Sentinel, Sun Sentinel, 28 Mar. 2025
Arenado axed this deal by invoking his no-trade clause, but given the Astros' recent trend upward, the star infielder might be more willing to waive his no-trade clause.
—Paul Du Quenoy, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Mar. 2025
Chicagoans will remember how Garry McCarthy, Chicago police superintendent under Mayor Rahm Emanuel, challenged Emanuel for mayor after Emanuel axed McCarthy.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 23 Mar. 2025
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
Trump also axed the directors of two government watchdogs, the Office of Government Ethics and the Office of Special Counsel.
—Varad Mehta, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 7 Mar. 2025
Between the lines: Goldman is among several companies that have axed diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives after conservative blowback and a series of court rulings questioning quotas.
—Naheed Rajwani-Dharsi, Axios, 10 Mar. 2025
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Noun
All the clichés about headaches are true—a pile of bricks on the head, a vise grip on the temples, an axe through the skull.
—Rebecca Nagle, The Atlantic, 1 Apr. 2025
That includes a big expansion of premium formats, to bars, eateries and activities from axe throwing to bowling that have been boosting regional chains.
—Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 31 Mar. 2025
The most high-profile landmark may be the home of Lizzie Borden, who was acquitted of murdering her parents with an axe.
—Steph Solis, Axios, 24 Mar. 2025
In his pursuit to find the one who killed Hector Ayala (Kamar de los Reyes) with a bullet emblazoned with the Punisher's skull insignia, Charlie Cox's blind attorney tracks down the Punisher himself — who nearly hacks off his head with an axe.
—Nick Romano, EW.com, 19 Mar. 2025
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
The axe falls After applying last September, Hudgins-Bradley got a final offer in December.
—Jonathan Shorman, Kansas City Star, 28 Feb. 2025
Others include 200 workers in airport security and 400 employees in the airspace industry who got the axe.
—Erin Mansfield, USA TODAY, 22 Feb. 2025
Verb
The leadership shake-up at the influential school comes after the federal government axed $400 million in grants to Columbia University following an antisemitism investigation into the institution.
—Filip Timotija, The Hill, 29 Mar. 2025
My Personal Information Copyright © 2025 Sun Sentinel Florida might bring back arts grants — with political oversight and new strings attached
Arts and culture grants may soon have a revival after Gov. Ron DeSantis axed them all last year.
—South Florida Sun Sentinel, Sun Sentinel, 28 Mar. 2025
Arenado axed this deal by invoking his no-trade clause, but given the Astros' recent trend upward, the star infielder might be more willing to waive his no-trade clause.
—Paul Du Quenoy, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Mar. 2025
Chicagoans will remember how Garry McCarthy, Chicago police superintendent under Mayor Rahm Emanuel, challenged Emanuel for mayor after Emanuel axed McCarthy.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 23 Mar. 2025
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
Trump also axed the directors of two government watchdogs, the Office of Government Ethics and the Office of Special Counsel.
—Varad Mehta, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 7 Mar. 2025
Between the lines: Goldman is among several companies that have axed diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives after conservative blowback and a series of court rulings questioning quotas.
—Naheed Rajwani-Dharsi, Axios, 10 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Axe.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/axe. Accessed 5 Apr. 2025.
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