wield

verb

ˈwēld 

wielded; wielding; wields

transitive verb

1

chiefly dialectal : to deal successfully with : manage

2

: to handle (something, such as a tool) especially effectively

wield a broom

3

a

: to exert one's authority by means of

wield influence

b

: to have at one's command or disposal

… did not wield appropriate credentials …

—G. W. Bonham

wielder noun

Synonyms of wield

• exert
• use
• apply

Examples of wield in a Sentence

The man was wielding a gun.

Can he wield a hammer?

He wields a great deal of influence over his students.

Recent Examples on the Web

Jones wields considerable influence within the state apparatus, but his political base is anchored in the rural, inland stretches of San Diego County. — Dain Fitzgerald, The Washington Examiner, 1 Aug. 2026

Minter, 32, has been one of the best late-game left-handed relievers for nearly a decade, wielding a hard fastball and one of baseball’s best cutters. — Evan Drellich, New York Times, 31 July 2026

The incident began with a 911 caller reporting a man wielding multiple knives in public. — Greg Wehner, FOXNews.com, 30 July 2026

What this means is open to interpretation, but it is wielded here primarily as a slogan of battlefield aggression—a rallying cry for soldiers who have been trained to abandon their fears, push bravely onward, and embrace a glorious death. — Justin Chang, New Yorker, 30 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English welden to control, from Old English wieldan; akin to Old High German waltan to rule, Latin valēre to be strong, be worth

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for wield

• heald
• healed
• heeled
• keeled
• kneeled
• pealed
• peeled
• reeled
• sealed
• shield
• squealed
• steeled

Kids Definition

wield

verb

ˈwē(ə)ld 

1

: to put (as a tool) to good use

wield a broom

2

: to use one's authority by means of

wield influence

wielder noun