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

There have been real-life assessments of the power billionaires wield and their influence in the White House — those figures are primarily men. —Yvonne Villarreal, Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2026

Abdul-Jabbar had 15,837 baskets when the skyhook-wielding big man ended his 20-year career in 1989 as the NBA’s career scoring leader. —Oc Register, 6 Mar. 2026

Remember how the heat rays wielded by the alien tripods in the great Spielberg-Cruise version of War of the Worlds burned their victims so violently that only little clouds of 9/11-evoking ash remained? —Chris Klimek, Vulture, 6 Mar. 2026

Rather, it is focused on validating the very human traits and desires that tech companies knowingly exploit to wield such power over us. —Kayti Burt, Time, 6 Mar. 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