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
Patrick Connolly, Orlando Sentinel, 17 Jan. 2025
The park also offers karting, axe throwing, arcade games, food and more.
—Chrissy Suttles, Axios, 16 Jan. 2025
Additional activities ignite family bonding, like axe throwing, golfing, a vibrant Festival of Colors, and miles of scenic hiking.
—Gina Kramer, USA TODAY, 28 Dec. 2024
Even Seeger, Dylan’s mentor, can’t abide this revolution and threatens to cut the speakers’ wiring with an axe before being calmed by his wife.
—Harrison Richlin, IndieWire, 3 Jan. 2025
That moment — when Edward Norton as Pete Seeger looks pointedly at an axe during Dylan’s electric set at the Newport Folk Festival — did baffle people.
—Aja Romano, Vox, 25 Dec. 2024
Among the artifacts found at the site were 119 lances and spears, eight swords, five knives, three arrowheads, one axe, a bridle, fragments of a bugle, fragments of at least two oath rings and several bronze and iron objects that have not been identified yet, according to the press release.
—Ashlyn Messier, Fox News, 4 Dec. 2024
While Unilever is powering through a strategic overhaul, that doesn’t mean every small brand will face the axe.
—Prarthana Prakash, Fortune Europe, 2 Dec. 2024
Next stop is axe throwing to represent Mel’s present as a farm-dwelling horse-owner.
—Sara Netzley, EW.com, 19 Dec. 2024
Tanasia Kenney, Miami Herald, 17 Jan. 2025
It was axed that same year but lived on in the form of the TikTok Creativity Program, which also pays creators.
—Antonio Pequeño Iv, Forbes, 17 Jan. 2025
Trump could axe the requirement for car companies to report autonomous vehicle crashes.
—Emily Forlini, PCMAG, 13 Jan. 2025
Meta and Amazon are both axing their diversity programs, adding their names to a growing list of firms across corporate America making similar moves in anticipation of Donald Trump’s return to the White House.
—Caroline Frost, Deadline, 11 Jan. 2025
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport has cancelled 57 percent of all its flights, followed by Baltimore Washington International Airport, where 38 percent of all flights have been axed.
—Kevin Lynn, Newsweek, 6 Jan. 2025
But, after just one season, he was axed, and Gronk was not pleased.
—Ryan Morik, Fox News, 8 Jan. 2025
Jets owner Woody Johnson axed coach Robert Saleh in early October following a 2-3 start and fired GM Joe Douglas during the Week 12 bye.
—Tim Graham, The Athletic, 7 Jan. 2025
Net neutrality rules have been axed again, this time thanks to a ruling from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, The New York Times reports.
—Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 3 Jan. 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
The 47th Central Florida Scottish Highland Games lands at Central Winds Park in Winter Springs this weekend with pipers, dancing, animals, artisan craft vendors, axe throwing, archery, a medieval camp, children’s activities, food and drinks, Highland athletics and more.
—Patrick Connolly, Orlando Sentinel, 17 Jan. 2025
The park also offers karting, axe throwing, arcade games, food and more.
—Chrissy Suttles, Axios, 16 Jan. 2025
Additional activities ignite family bonding, like axe throwing, golfing, a vibrant Festival of Colors, and miles of scenic hiking.
—Gina Kramer, USA TODAY, 28 Dec. 2024
Even Seeger, Dylan’s mentor, can’t abide this revolution and threatens to cut the speakers’ wiring with an axe before being calmed by his wife.
—Harrison Richlin, IndieWire, 3 Jan. 2025
That moment — when Edward Norton as Pete Seeger looks pointedly at an axe during Dylan’s electric set at the Newport Folk Festival — did baffle people.
—Aja Romano, Vox, 25 Dec. 2024
Among the artifacts found at the site were 119 lances and spears, eight swords, five knives, three arrowheads, one axe, a bridle, fragments of a bugle, fragments of at least two oath rings and several bronze and iron objects that have not been identified yet, according to the press release.
—Ashlyn Messier, Fox News, 4 Dec. 2024
While Unilever is powering through a strategic overhaul, that doesn’t mean every small brand will face the axe.
—Prarthana Prakash, Fortune Europe, 2 Dec. 2024
Next stop is axe throwing to represent Mel’s present as a farm-dwelling horse-owner.
—Sara Netzley, EW.com, 19 Dec. 2024
Verb
Pepsi is axing a permanent flavor from its lineup — but a new one will hit shelves soon.
—Tanasia Kenney, Miami Herald, 17 Jan. 2025
It was axed that same year but lived on in the form of the TikTok Creativity Program, which also pays creators.
—Antonio Pequeño Iv, Forbes, 17 Jan. 2025
Trump could axe the requirement for car companies to report autonomous vehicle crashes.
—Emily Forlini, PCMAG, 13 Jan. 2025
Meta and Amazon are both axing their diversity programs, adding their names to a growing list of firms across corporate America making similar moves in anticipation of Donald Trump’s return to the White House.
—Caroline Frost, Deadline, 11 Jan. 2025
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport has cancelled 57 percent of all its flights, followed by Baltimore Washington International Airport, where 38 percent of all flights have been axed.
—Kevin Lynn, Newsweek, 6 Jan. 2025
But, after just one season, he was axed, and Gronk was not pleased.
—Ryan Morik, Fox News, 8 Jan. 2025
Jets owner Woody Johnson axed coach Robert Saleh in early October following a 2-3 start and fired GM Joe Douglas during the Week 12 bye.
—Tim Graham, The Athletic, 7 Jan. 2025
Net neutrality rules have been axed again, this time thanks to a ruling from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, The New York Times reports.
—Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 3 Jan. 2025
Dictionary Entries Near axe
Cite this Entry
“Axe.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/axe. Accessed 2 Feb. 2025.
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