wield

1 of 2

verb

wielded; wielding; wields
Synonyms of wieldnext

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

wielder

2 of 2

noun

wield·​er
-də(r)
plural -s
: one that wields (as a weapon or implement)

Examples of wield in a Sentence

Verb 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
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.
Verb
Not only that, but USC rose to that level in a still-unfinished stadium, without anything resembling the NIL firepower that other college baseball teams, particularly in the SEC and ACC, are wielding. Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 8 June 2026 Much contemporary anti-glamour sentiment betrays a strain of misogyny, even when wielded by women of good intent. Eileen G'sell, The Conversation, 8 June 2026 Trash and graffiti accumulated; a maintenance worker was reportedly chased off by a machete-wielding transient. Max Kutner, HollywoodReporter, 7 June 2026 When the Selma marchers faced down snarling dogs and baton-wielding police in 1965, the contrast between their passive resistance and the Jim Crow officials’ savagery echoed the caning of a century before. Rob Wolfe, The Atlantic, 5 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for wield

Word History

Etymology

Verb

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

Verb

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of wield was before the 12th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Wield.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wield. Accessed 11 Jun. 2026.

Kids Definition

wield

verb
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

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