axing

verb

present participle of ax
as in sacking
to let go from office, service, or employment the boss will ax anyone who leaks company secrets

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of axing The city is also contemplating axing more than 94 vacant jobs. — Ishani Desai, Sacbee.com, 29 Apr. 2026 More than a dozen are rumored to be on his shortlist for axing, after several more were voluntarily killed or amended to avoid the gallows. — Nick Coltrain, Denver Post, 15 May 2026 Amazon has been laying off staff en masse this year, axing over 16,000 employees in 2026 so far. — Will McCurdy, PC Magazine, 2 May 2026 Of course, dozens of companies have been axing staff and restructuring for a digital future, which is perhaps the BBC’s biggest challenge. — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 17 Apr. 2026 The biggest headline in Europe this week was German airline Lufthansa axing 20,000 flights through October. — Jordan Blum, Fortune, 24 Apr. 2026 Membership perks are also changing, with the city axing unlimited play time for annual members and removing reserved tee times that were always set aside for several longstanding golf associations in the city. — Michelle Marchante, Miami Herald, 17 Apr. 2026 For the first time since temporarily axing the base model WRX for 2025, Subaru regained traction with its sport compact, with sales jumping 50% from a year ago. — Byron Hurd, The Drive, 4 June 2026 Brendan McDermid | Reuters Amazon is axing its Rufus chatbot and making its Alexa assistant the centerpiece of its artificial intelligence shopping strategy. — Annie Palmer, CNBC, 13 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for axing
  1. sacking
  2. removing
  3. dismissing
  4. firing
  5. retiring
  6. releasing
Verb
  • To an outsider, the scene may spark a certain Schadenfreude, like an army of tiny barbarians sacking Rome.
    — Burkhard Bilger, New Yorker, 29 June 2026
  • One source close to the squad, speaking anonymously to protect relationships, told The Athletic that the AUF considered sacking Bielsa around this period, aware of the ongoing issues with the squad.
    — Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 28 June 2026
Definition of sacking
Verb
  • Regular care prevents yellowing by removing oils and buildup that dull fabrics over time.
    — Quincy Bulin, Southern Living, 1 July 2026
  • Bart Jansen Trump called the court removing restrictions on political spending a victory for Republicans and free speech.
    — Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 1 July 2026
Definition of removing
Verb
  • The program was established by state lawmakers in 2018 as a way to help stem the tide of mental illness in jails and prisons, usually by dismissing cases and offering treatment for the underlying conditions behind a defendant’s arrest.
    — Jakob Rodgers, Mercury News, 6 July 2026
  • Manchester, for example, was in court for a year after dismissing a contractor from the Parkade redevelopment job, and ended up paying $2 million.
    — Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 6 July 2026
Definition of dismissing
Verb
  • China last tested an ICBM launched into the Pacific in September 2024, firing a DF-31B nuclear-capable missile from Hainan Island in the South China Sea into the open Pacific near French Polynesia.
    — Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 6 July 2026
  • China last conducted a missile test in the Pacific two years ago, then firing an intercontinental ballistic missile with a dummy warhead.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 6 July 2026
Definition of firing
Verb
  • Two Latinos are running in this year’s election to replace Councilmember Curren Price, who is Black and retiring after serving the maximum three terms.
    — Melissa Gomez, Los Angeles Times, 4 July 2026
  • Assistant County Administrator Bridgette Cobbins, who has worked for the Unified Government for three decades, is also retiring.
    — Sofi Zeman July 2, Kansas City Star, 3 July 2026
Definition of retiring
Verb
  • Tianwen-1 is a Mars orbiter, lander and rover mission that successfully touched down on the red planet on May 15, 2021, releasing its Zhurong rover.
    — Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 4 July 2026
  • After releasing albums across genres, both country and dance music, there has been growing speculation that the last project in the trilogy could be a rock album.
    — Caché McClay, USA Today, 4 July 2026
Definition of releasing

Browse Nearby Words

axes
axing
axiom
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Cite this Entry

“Axing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/axing. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on axing

Nglish: Translation of axing for Spanish Speakers

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