wield

as in to exert
to bring to bear especially forcefully or effectively wields considerable influence in the field of women's sports

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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 wield Under cross-examination on Thursday, Parker’s attorney inferred that Zwerner herself could or should have taken more decisive action against the gun-wielding youngster. Gary Grumbach, NBC news, 30 Oct. 2025 Nessarose, who uses a wheelchair, is seen levitating after begging Elphaba to wield her magical powers to give her the ability to walk. Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 30 Oct. 2025 Beijing, in other words, got Washington to forswear one of its best economic tools just as China was wielding its own leverage. Mira Rapp-Hooper, Foreign Affairs, 29 Oct. 2025 When clemency is wielded only to benefit the famous or well-connected, the public loses trust in its legitimacy and the people most deserving of a second chance get left behind. Khalil Cumberbatch, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for wield
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wield
Verb
  • In recent months, Rodenbush said, school administrators were pressuring him to exert control over what gets published in each semester's seven print editions and remove traditional news coverage, according to IndyStar reporting and the complaint.
    Cate Charron, IndyStar, 30 Oct. 2025
  • The tastemaker brings to light a particularly poignant anecdote to illustrate the fact that her style decisions in the White House were nothing if not calculated — in many cases exerting a certain degree of soft power.
    Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 29 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The Dodgers, with baseball's biggest payroll, have used their financial ability to pluck some of the most sought-after and most expensive free agents on the market.
    Steve Futterman, NPR, 4 Nov. 2025
  • According to the new study, certain forms of iron oxyhydroxide nanominerals can catalyze the degradation of organophosphate esters (OPEs), chemical additives used in plastics as flame retardants and softeners.
    Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 4 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • To be safe, test the oil on a small patch of skin before applying it to larger areas of your body or your face.
    Sherri Gordon, Health, 29 Oct. 2025
  • Wear red sweats and apply red face makeup.
    Katie Wiseman, IndyStar, 29 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Wield.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wield. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.

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