wielded

past tense of wield
as in exerted
to bring to bear especially forcefully or effectively wields considerable influence in the field of women's sports

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of wielded All three musicians played virtuosically, and all three wielded their astounding dexterity to drag against the grain of pop appeal. Sasha Geffen, Pitchfork, 2 Aug. 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 This isn’t the first time Tillis has wielded his political leverage during a high-stakes nomination process. Ben Wieder, Los Angeles Times, 30 July 2026 Whereas once Washington’s antislavery credentials were wielded to bring slavery to an end, today some conservatives highlight Washington’s ostensible opposition to slavery to deemphasize slavery’s foundational importance in American history. John Garrison Marks, The Atlantic, 25 July 2026 The latter two heat waves have been caused by a thick ridge of high pressure — dubbed a heat dome by the weather service — that has wielded influence for weeks. Rick Hurd, Mercury News, 24 July 2026 Nolan was already inside the horse with cinematographer Hoyte van Hoytema, who wielded the IMAX cameras, and about 25 men. Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 20 July 2026 For years, gig-economy executives have wielded the blunt instrument of surge pricing to manage their workforce. Christopher S. Tang, The Conversation, 8 July 2026 Despite an obliterated navy and air force, Iran wielded significant economic power in the spring. David Goldman, CNN Money, 7 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wielded
Verb
  • His administration has also exerted pressure against state AI laws.
    Dana Taylor, USA Today, 27 July 2026
  • By dominating the digital world, Silicon Valley has already exerted indirect control over the physical one.
    Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 18 July 2026
Verb
  • Police set up a strike force to investigate Jones after The Sydney Morning Herald newspaper reported in 2023 that Jones used his position of power, first as a schoolteacher and later as a popular broadcaster, to prey on a number of young men.
    ABC News, ABC News, 3 Aug. 2026
  • The route is being used by Saudi Arabia to export oil via the Suez Canal north to Europe and down south to Asian markets as an alternative to the Strait of Hormuz.
    Gaurav Sharma, Forbes.com, 3 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Even leave-in masks, which are designed for daily use, should be applied according to your hair’s needs; overloading can leave strands greasy or limp.
    Anya Meyerowitz, Glamour, 2 Aug. 2026
  • At Pio Cesare, which has been producing both Barolo and Barbaresco since its founding in 1881, the same winemaking technique is applied to both wines.
    Mike DeSimone, Robb Report, 2 Aug. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Wielded.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wielded. Accessed 5 Aug. 2026.

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