{
  "axes":{
    "the termination of the employment of an employee or a work force often temporarily":{
      "examples":[
        "the company was hemorrhaging money, so 700 employees would soon be given the ax"
      ],
      "synonyms":[
        "discharges",
        "dismissals",
        "furloughs",
        "layoffs",
        "redundancies"
      ],
      "near synonyms":[
        "pink slips",
        "birds",
        "boots",
        "bum's rushes",
        "firings",
        "heave-hos",
        "sacks",
        "closings",
        "shutdowns",
        "shakeouts",
        "shake-ups"
      ],
      "near antonyms":[
        "callbacks",
        "recalls",
        "reemployments",
        "re-employments",
        "rehires"
      ],
      "antonyms":[]
    },
    "a thing or place that is of greatest importance to an activity or interest":{
      "examples":[
        "in addition to being the suburb's social axis , the country club is the place where deals are made and partnerships are forged"
      ],
      "synonyms":[
        "bases",
        "capitals",
        "centers",
        "centrals",
        "cores",
        "cynosures",
        "epicenters",
        "eyes",
        "foci",
        "focuses",
        "ground zeros",
        "hearts",
        "hubs",
        "loci",
        "meccas",
        "navels",
        "nerve centers",
        "nexuses",
        "nexus",
        "nuclei",
        "nucleuses",
        "omphali",
        "seats"
      ],
      "near synonyms":[
        "headquarters",
        "happy hunting grounds",
        "hives",
        "hotbeds",
        "hot spots",
        "playgrounds",
        "playlands",
        "kernels",
        "nubs",
        "piths",
        "deeps",
        "thicks",
        "essences",
        "quintessences",
        "souls",
        "attractions",
        "lodestones",
        "loadstones",
        "magnets",
        "polestars"
      ],
      "near antonyms":[],
      "antonyms":[]
    },
    "an association of persons, parties, or states for mutual assistance and protection":{
      "examples":[
        "an axis of previously nonaligned nations"
      ],
      "synonyms":[
        "alliances",
        "blocks",
        "blocs",
        "coalitions",
        "combinations",
        "combines",
        "confederacies",
        "confederations",
        "federations",
        "leagues",
        "unions"
      ],
      "near synonyms":[
        "cabals",
        "conspiracies",
        "juntos",
        "cartels",
        "syndicates",
        "trusts",
        "factions",
        "fronts",
        "fusions",
        "sides",
        "wings",
        "associations",
        "groups",
        "organizations",
        "affiliations",
        "cooperatives",
        "partnerships",
        "circuits",
        "conferences"
      ],
      "near antonyms":[],
      "antonyms":[]
    },
    "to let go from office, service, or employment":{
      "examples":[
        "the boss will ax anyone who leaks company secrets"
      ],
      "synonyms":[
        "bounces",
        "cans",
        "cashiers",
        "discharges",
        "dismisses",
        "fires",
        "musters out",
        "pink-slips",
        "releases",
        "removes",
        "retires",
        "sacks",
        "terminates",
        "turns off"
      ],
      "near synonyms":[
        "downsizes",
        "excesses",
        "furloughs",
        "lays off",
        "trims",
        "boots (out)",
        "chucks (out)",
        "drums (out)",
        "kicks out",
        "throws out",
        "unseats",
        "separates"
      ],
      "near antonyms":[
        "keeps",
        "reemploys",
        "rehires",
        "contracts",
        "subcontracts",
        "recruits"
      ],
      "antonyms":[
        "employs",
        "engages",
        "hires",
        "retains",
        "signs (up or on)",
        "takes on"
      ]
    },
    "type":[
      "noun",
      "verb"
    ]
  }
}