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 WebMoises Mendez Ii, TIME, 10 June 2024
What was Haymitch’s Hunger Games like? Haymitch won the Second Quarter Quell by using the force field at the edge of the arena as a tool for killing the District 1 tribute with her own axe.
—Dina Kaur, The Arizona Republic, 6 June 2024
Gusts of wind scream through the high desert here, and Kildall eyes individual Joshua trees with the eagerness of a kid at Guitar Center, ready to pick out an axe.
—Christopher Intagliata, NPR, 3 June 2024
What can be done with hooks that can't be done with an axe or a machete?
—Megan McCluskey, TIME, 31 May 2024
Play golf, go for a hike, or try archery or axe throwing.
—Patricia Doherty, Travel + Leisure, 25 May 2024
Ron is ready to lead his boys-only scout troop for a weekend spent in the wilderness alongside Leslie Knope’s girls-only troop, axe in hand.
—Jennifer Maldonado, EW.com, 23 May 2024
Along with the lids, researchers also found ceramics, flint, a box with orange and red tones, an axe, a hammer and a shell bead in the shape of a star, according to the release.
—Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 21 May 2024
The axe that then comes smashing through their front door begs a question: Is this another random act of violence or a town-wide conspiracy?
—Michael Nordine, Variety, 16 May 2024
Kate Gibson, CBS News, 17 June 2024
People are axing expenses like embalming, which the NFDA reports has a median price of $845.
—Sabina Wex, Glamour, 17 June 2024
The doc is set into motion as dreams shatter for Strickland and Garments after getting axed from the WWE and Kanye West’s crew, respectively.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 17 June 2024
The project was axed this February, even as Di Novi was teasing to yet another return to small-town Massachusetts.
—Eva Hartman, Los Angeles Times, 11 June 2024
Instead of a feature film, the 2003 comic was later adapted into a show for Hulu that ran for a solid three seasons starting in 2017 before being axed along with virtually every other non–Marvel Studios show ahead of Disney+’s debut.
—Nola Pfau, Vulture, 12 Jan. 2024
The for child endangerment and promptly axed from the studio as a video of him allegedly abusing a little boy has made the rounds online.
—Jami Ganz, New York Daily News, 11 Jan. 2024
According to the company, some roles will be axed entirely, while certain operations will be consolidated in countries that are best aligned with its demand needs and existing real estate footprint.
—Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 3 Sep. 2019
Now, those remaining 250 workers are also getting axed this week.
—Natallie Rocha, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 May 2024
Noun
To keep up to date with which shows will get made and which have already gotten the axe, here’s a guide to the status of every Game of Thrones spinoff series.
—Moises Mendez Ii, TIME, 10 June 2024
What was Haymitch’s Hunger Games like? Haymitch won the Second Quarter Quell by using the force field at the edge of the arena as a tool for killing the District 1 tribute with her own axe.
—Dina Kaur, The Arizona Republic, 6 June 2024
Gusts of wind scream through the high desert here, and Kildall eyes individual Joshua trees with the eagerness of a kid at Guitar Center, ready to pick out an axe.
—Christopher Intagliata, NPR, 3 June 2024
What can be done with hooks that can't be done with an axe or a machete?
—Megan McCluskey, TIME, 31 May 2024
Play golf, go for a hike, or try archery or axe throwing.
—Patricia Doherty, Travel + Leisure, 25 May 2024
Ron is ready to lead his boys-only scout troop for a weekend spent in the wilderness alongside Leslie Knope’s girls-only troop, axe in hand.
—Jennifer Maldonado, EW.com, 23 May 2024
Along with the lids, researchers also found ceramics, flint, a box with orange and red tones, an axe, a hammer and a shell bead in the shape of a star, according to the release.
—Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 21 May 2024
The axe that then comes smashing through their front door begs a question: Is this another random act of violence or a town-wide conspiracy?
—Michael Nordine, Variety, 16 May 2024
Verb
Nationwide will cancel coverage for about 100,000 animals across the country, with the nation's biggest provider of pet insurance citing the escalating cost of veterinary care in axing the product in some states.
—Kate Gibson, CBS News, 17 June 2024
People are axing expenses like embalming, which the NFDA reports has a median price of $845.
—Sabina Wex, Glamour, 17 June 2024
The doc is set into motion as dreams shatter for Strickland and Garments after getting axed from the WWE and Kanye West’s crew, respectively.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 17 June 2024
The project was axed this February, even as Di Novi was teasing to yet another return to small-town Massachusetts.
—Eva Hartman, Los Angeles Times, 11 June 2024
Instead of a feature film, the 2003 comic was later adapted into a show for Hulu that ran for a solid three seasons starting in 2017 before being axed along with virtually every other non–Marvel Studios show ahead of Disney+’s debut.
—Nola Pfau, Vulture, 12 Jan. 2024
The for child endangerment and promptly axed from the studio as a video of him allegedly abusing a little boy has made the rounds online.
—Jami Ganz, New York Daily News, 11 Jan. 2024
According to the company, some roles will be axed entirely, while certain operations will be consolidated in countries that are best aligned with its demand needs and existing real estate footprint.
—Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 3 Sep. 2019
Now, those remaining 250 workers are also getting axed this week.
—Natallie Rocha, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 May 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'axe.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near axe
Cite this Entry
“Axe.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/axe. Accessed 30 Jun. 2024.
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