wielded; wielding; wields
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
G. W. Bonham
wielder
noun
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
Trump has wielded the ceasefire as a carrot and stick, issuing peace overtures one day and threats the next day, all in an attempt to get an upper hand in the negotiations.
—Sudarsan Raghavan, New Yorker, 12 May 2026
Weekend nights, Cleotilde Juárez Ramírez commands this patch of sidewalk, wielding a comal the size of a satellite dish over a brazier.
—Ligaya Mishan, New York Times, 11 May 2026
The decision for America to wage war is far too important, and the consequences too great, for the executive to wield so much power, often unchecked by Congress.
—James Cramer, Baltimore Sun, 11 May 2026
Archaeologists believe that the warrior leader, adorned with a ceremonial sword that was actively wielded, buried this scabbard as a sacrifice to the gods in hopes of relief, change, and better days.
—Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 10 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for wield
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Sudarsan Raghavan, New Yorker, 12 May 2026
Weekend nights, Cleotilde Juárez Ramírez commands this patch of sidewalk, wielding a comal the size of a satellite dish over a brazier.
—Ligaya Mishan, New York Times, 11 May 2026
The decision for America to wage war is far too important, and the consequences too great, for the executive to wield so much power, often unchecked by Congress.
—James Cramer, Baltimore Sun, 11 May 2026
Archaeologists believe that the warrior leader, adorned with a ceremonial sword that was actively wielded, buried this scabbard as a sacrifice to the gods in hopes of relief, change, and better days.
—Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 10 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for wield
Cite this Entry
“Wield.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wield. Accessed 17 May. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
wield
verb1
: to put (as a tool) to good use
wield a broom
2
: to use one's authority by means of
wield influence
wielder
noun
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