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
But this time, interest is less focused on vetting the Ellison family or the deal’s particulars and more about determining whether Trump inappropriately wields his power.
—Meg James, Los Angeles Times, 5 June 2025
The black humor that Baltic artists wield so boldly is as much a constant presence as the creeping sense of dread.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 5 June 2025
Musk endorses Trump in 2024, wields influence The tech billionaire formally endorsed Mr. Trump on July 13, 2024, moments after Mr. Trump survived an assassination attempt at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.
—Joe Walsh, CBS News, 5 June 2025
That debate followed a lawsuit brought by both of the state’s utilities in January, accusing Gillett of wielding unilateral control over the authority and issuing hundreds of decisions without the input of her fellow commissioners.
—John Moritz, Hartford Courant, 4 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for wield
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Meg James, Los Angeles Times, 5 June 2025
The black humor that Baltic artists wield so boldly is as much a constant presence as the creeping sense of dread.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 5 June 2025
Musk endorses Trump in 2024, wields influence The tech billionaire formally endorsed Mr. Trump on July 13, 2024, moments after Mr. Trump survived an assassination attempt at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.
—Joe Walsh, CBS News, 5 June 2025
That debate followed a lawsuit brought by both of the state’s utilities in January, accusing Gillett of wielding unilateral control over the authority and issuing hundreds of decisions without the input of her fellow commissioners.
—John Moritz, Hartford Courant, 4 June 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 10 Jun. 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
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