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
Federico Fahsbender, Rolling Stone, 11 Feb. 2025
This place is truly a playground for adults and kids alike, featuring ice curling, axe throwing, claw machines and more.
—Alexandra Maloney, Charlotte Observer, 10 Feb. 2025
Tiki bar add-ons, axe throwing and more can round out a dark romance date night.
—Brittany Anas, The Denver Post, 6 Feb. 2025
That did not happen, so Mendes has an axe to grind — and an asset that Barca cannot afford to lose.
—Pol Ballús, The Athletic, 21 Jan. 2025
On the series side, four shows are also getting the axe.
—Lauren Huff, EW.com, 1 Jan. 2025
For even more fun, book the Adventure Alisal package to add on two extra activities per night per room, like horseback riding, axe throwing, and golfing at one of Alisal Ranch’s two championship courses.
—Beth Luberecki, USA TODAY, 28 Jan. 2025
Disneyland adds new show scenes during Haunted Mansion makeover
The new storyline turns the attic bride from an axe murderer who beheads her wealthy husbands for their fortunes into a brooding bride mourning the loss of her husbands and filled with the overwhelming dread of lost love.
—Brady MacDonald, Orange County Register, 18 Jan. 2025
In his office, Berg used an ice axe to pitch Smith on a collaboration, which would eventually follow a fictional frontiersman and mother-son duo navigating the Westward expansion.
—Abbey White, The Hollywood Reporter, 18 Jan. 2025
Meghan Hall, Sourcing Journal, 5 Feb. 2025
That caused some users on social media to incorrectly report that the program itself had been axed.
—Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes, 4 Feb. 2025
Starbucks has already axed its lineup of olive oil drinks and iced energy drinks.
—Jordan Valinsky, CNN, 29 Jan. 2025
The move comes after Trump over the weekend axed 17 government watchdogs at agencies including the departments of Defense, State, Transportation, VA, Energy, Interior, and Housing and Urban Development.
—Mike Lillis, The Hill, 28 Jan. 2025
In 2021, Instagram launched a Reels bonus program, but in 2022, creators said the platform had begun slashing their payments until the program was axed completely in 2023.
—Emma Roth, The Verge, 21 Jan. 2025
Trump, however, says his administration may axe it.
—Emily Forlini, PCMAG, 21 Jan. 2025
Friday night, Trump summarily axed 18 of the federal government’s 73 inspectors general, yanking 13 IGs out of 15 at Cabinet-level departments.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 31 Jan. 2025
The Mac edition of Aura eliminated 100% of the Windows samples, while Avast and McAfee axed 97% and 96%, respectively.
—PCMAG, 24 Jan. 2025
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.
Noun
In another scene, Oliver shoves Mallory, breaks a light fixture, and chases her with an axe.
—Federico Fahsbender, Rolling Stone, 11 Feb. 2025
This place is truly a playground for adults and kids alike, featuring ice curling, axe throwing, claw machines and more.
—Alexandra Maloney, Charlotte Observer, 10 Feb. 2025
Tiki bar add-ons, axe throwing and more can round out a dark romance date night.
—Brittany Anas, The Denver Post, 6 Feb. 2025
That did not happen, so Mendes has an axe to grind — and an asset that Barca cannot afford to lose.
—Pol Ballús, The Athletic, 21 Jan. 2025
On the series side, four shows are also getting the axe.
—Lauren Huff, EW.com, 1 Jan. 2025
For even more fun, book the Adventure Alisal package to add on two extra activities per night per room, like horseback riding, axe throwing, and golfing at one of Alisal Ranch’s two championship courses.
—Beth Luberecki, USA TODAY, 28 Jan. 2025
Disneyland adds new show scenes during Haunted Mansion makeover
The new storyline turns the attic bride from an axe murderer who beheads her wealthy husbands for their fortunes into a brooding bride mourning the loss of her husbands and filled with the overwhelming dread of lost love.
—Brady MacDonald, Orange County Register, 18 Jan. 2025
In his office, Berg used an ice axe to pitch Smith on a collaboration, which would eventually follow a fictional frontiersman and mother-son duo navigating the Westward expansion.
—Abbey White, The Hollywood Reporter, 18 Jan. 2025
Verb
In addition to its legal threats, the CSN has asked consumers, companies and Canadian government agencies to boycott Amazon, whether by not buying products from the platform, canceling Amazon Prime subscriptions, axing contracts with Amazon and its subsidiaries like AWS or otherwise.
—Meghan Hall, Sourcing Journal, 5 Feb. 2025
That caused some users on social media to incorrectly report that the program itself had been axed.
—Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes, 4 Feb. 2025
Starbucks has already axed its lineup of olive oil drinks and iced energy drinks.
—Jordan Valinsky, CNN, 29 Jan. 2025
The move comes after Trump over the weekend axed 17 government watchdogs at agencies including the departments of Defense, State, Transportation, VA, Energy, Interior, and Housing and Urban Development.
—Mike Lillis, The Hill, 28 Jan. 2025
In 2021, Instagram launched a Reels bonus program, but in 2022, creators said the platform had begun slashing their payments until the program was axed completely in 2023.
—Emma Roth, The Verge, 21 Jan. 2025
Trump, however, says his administration may axe it.
—Emily Forlini, PCMAG, 21 Jan. 2025
Friday night, Trump summarily axed 18 of the federal government’s 73 inspectors general, yanking 13 IGs out of 15 at Cabinet-level departments.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 31 Jan. 2025
The Mac edition of Aura eliminated 100% of the Windows samples, while Avast and McAfee axed 97% and 96%, respectively.
—PCMAG, 24 Jan. 2025
Dictionary Entries Near axe
Cite this Entry
“Axe.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/axe. Accessed 16 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share