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
Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 8 Dec. 2024
Indoor activities in the more than 30,000 square-foot facility include games for adults and kids from corn hole to football bowling, ping pong, pickleball, axe throwing and board games.
—Susan Selasky, Detroit Free Press, 6 Dec. 2024
According to Smithsonian Magazine, Josiah was killed first when his murderer — or murderers — walked in through the family’s unlocked front door, snuck past two bedrooms with the children sleeping in them, and crushed his skull with an axe.
—Sean Neumann, People.com, 13 Oct. 2024
Anyway, what record keeps Tony Elliott safe from the axe?
B
Brian H.
· Aug 26
The AerLinglus Kick Off Classic showed that GT apparently was able to build a defense in an off season.
—The Athletic College Football Staff, The Athletic, 26 Aug. 2024
Mini escape games and axe throwing round out the fun.
—Brittany Anas, Forbes, 23 Oct. 2024
In the next scene, the axe comes down on poor Amanda Thirsk, who is given the dressing down of all dressing downs by the queen’s private secretary.
—Jack King, Vulture, 20 Sep. 2024
At six feet six, with woodcutter’s biceps, Stanton can chop baseballs with such force that the sound resonates like an axe to a melon.
—Nicholas Dawidoff, The New Yorker, 26 Oct. 2024
How much does Satya Nadella earn While Nadella personally requested a 50% axe to one aspect of his total compensation, his overall package increased by more than $30 million compared to a year ago.
—Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 25 Oct. 2024
Ilana Kaplan, People.com, 6 Dec. 2024
Lance Bass has revealed that he was once attached to an unnamed CW sitcom that was axed due to his sexuality.
—EW.com, 6 Dec. 2024
Alaska reality series Life Below Zero is also reported to have been axed after 11 years.
—Max Goldbart, Deadline, 4 Dec. 2024
Also, if they’re axed from Pump Rules and have to take a season off from The Valley, they could get hired back for a lot less money, which would be appealing to the bean counters at Bravo.
—Brian Moylan, Vulture, 26 Nov. 2024
In January 2023, Google followed suit, axing 12,000 people.
—Vittoria Elliott, WIRED, 5 Nov. 2024
Here's everything to know about the show getting axed.
—Samantha Stutsman, People.com, 21 Nov. 2024
Electric vehicle stocks are falling Thursday after a report detailed the incoming Trump administration’s plans to axe a tax credit for consumers buying cleaner cars.
—William Gavin, Quartz, 14 Nov. 2024
But questions are arising over whether Trump will try to axe CISA as part of his administration’s promise to cut costs and streamline the federal government.
—Michael Kan, PCMAG, 6 Nov. 2024
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
He’s being investigated in the killing of a minor with an axe.
—Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 8 Dec. 2024
Indoor activities in the more than 30,000 square-foot facility include games for adults and kids from corn hole to football bowling, ping pong, pickleball, axe throwing and board games.
—Susan Selasky, Detroit Free Press, 6 Dec. 2024
According to Smithsonian Magazine, Josiah was killed first when his murderer — or murderers — walked in through the family’s unlocked front door, snuck past two bedrooms with the children sleeping in them, and crushed his skull with an axe.
—Sean Neumann, People.com, 13 Oct. 2024
Anyway, what record keeps Tony Elliott safe from the axe?
B
Brian H.
· Aug 26
The AerLinglus Kick Off Classic showed that GT apparently was able to build a defense in an off season.
—The Athletic College Football Staff, The Athletic, 26 Aug. 2024
Mini escape games and axe throwing round out the fun.
—Brittany Anas, Forbes, 23 Oct. 2024
In the next scene, the axe comes down on poor Amanda Thirsk, who is given the dressing down of all dressing downs by the queen’s private secretary.
—Jack King, Vulture, 20 Sep. 2024
At six feet six, with woodcutter’s biceps, Stanton can chop baseballs with such force that the sound resonates like an axe to a melon.
—Nicholas Dawidoff, The New Yorker, 26 Oct. 2024
How much does Satya Nadella earn While Nadella personally requested a 50% axe to one aspect of his total compensation, his overall package increased by more than $30 million compared to a year ago.
—Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 25 Oct. 2024
Verb
Lance Bass claims he once was attached to a CW pilot that was axed due to him coming out as gay in a 2006 PEOPLE cover story.
—Ilana Kaplan, People.com, 6 Dec. 2024
Lance Bass has revealed that he was once attached to an unnamed CW sitcom that was axed due to his sexuality.
—EW.com, 6 Dec. 2024
Alaska reality series Life Below Zero is also reported to have been axed after 11 years.
—Max Goldbart, Deadline, 4 Dec. 2024
Also, if they’re axed from Pump Rules and have to take a season off from The Valley, they could get hired back for a lot less money, which would be appealing to the bean counters at Bravo.
—Brian Moylan, Vulture, 26 Nov. 2024
In January 2023, Google followed suit, axing 12,000 people.
—Vittoria Elliott, WIRED, 5 Nov. 2024
Here's everything to know about the show getting axed.
—Samantha Stutsman, People.com, 21 Nov. 2024
Electric vehicle stocks are falling Thursday after a report detailed the incoming Trump administration’s plans to axe a tax credit for consumers buying cleaner cars.
—William Gavin, Quartz, 14 Nov. 2024
But questions are arising over whether Trump will try to axe CISA as part of his administration’s promise to cut costs and streamline the federal government.
—Michael Kan, PCMAG, 6 Nov. 2024
Dictionary Entries Near axe
Cite this Entry
“Axe.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/axe. Accessed 15 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share