wield

verb

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 credentialsG. 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 openly speculated that Harris is wielding her multi-faceted racial identities to gain inroads with minority voters. Emily Hallas, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 4 Aug. 2024 Women of color lead fights for racial justice, contributing to movements like Black Lives Matter, and wield political influence, as exemplified by Stacey Abrams’s voter mobilization efforts in Georgia. Sara Guillermo, Orlando Sentinel, 28 July 2024 In addition to wielding a deadly umbrella and making her mark on the criminal underworld of Gotham City, Driver's version of the Penguin will also sing on the show. EW.com, 27 July 2024 According to state law, any time the governor leaves the state, the lieutenant governor becomes the acting governor, able to wield all the powers of the office — that's a problem for Democrats because the state's lieutenant governor, Mark Robinson, is a highly controversial Republican. Mary Radcliffe, ABC News, 25 July 2024 See all Example Sentences for wield 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'wield.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

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

Dictionary Entries Near wield

Cite this Entry

“Wield.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wield. Accessed 19 Aug. 2024.

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

More from Merriam-Webster on wield

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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