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
Jay Tavare wielded the killer glove and mask in the 1994 Street Fighter movie.
—Christopher Rudolph, PEOPLE, 6 Sep. 2025
Senate Democrats are attempting to wield their leverage over Republicans, who will need their help in a few weeks to clear a 60-vote filibuster and avert the latest shutdown deadline.
—Ramsey Touchberry, The Washington Examiner, 5 Sep. 2025
The footage appears to show Lawrence and Pattinson in a heated confrontation, while other moments feature a character wielding a knife.
—Ryan Gajewski, HollywoodReporter, 5 Sep. 2025
To guarantee their rule in perpetuity, pro-slavery Southerners wielded federal authority against their opponents and brazenly attacked any institution, law, practice, or norm that did not serve their purposes.
—Time, 5 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for wield
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.
Christopher Rudolph, PEOPLE, 6 Sep. 2025
Senate Democrats are attempting to wield their leverage over Republicans, who will need their help in a few weeks to clear a 60-vote filibuster and avert the latest shutdown deadline.
—Ramsey Touchberry, The Washington Examiner, 5 Sep. 2025
The footage appears to show Lawrence and Pattinson in a heated confrontation, while other moments feature a character wielding a knife.
—Ryan Gajewski, HollywoodReporter, 5 Sep. 2025
To guarantee their rule in perpetuity, pro-slavery Southerners wielded federal authority against their opponents and brazenly attacked any institution, law, practice, or norm that did not serve their purposes.
—Time, 5 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for wield
Cite this Entry
“Wield.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wield. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share