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
If confirmed, the 64-year-old would oversee the nearly $1.5 trillion the federal government spends on Medicare and Medicaid — health insurance programs that make up a large amount of the budget and have often been wielded as political cudgels.
—Kaia Hubbard, CBS News, 25 Mar. 2025
Their ascent to power has coincided with the First Amendment being wielded as a shield against foreign regulations on digital platforms.
—Camille Grenier, The Conversation, 21 Mar. 2025
But the biggest influence of Coventry’s rise to arguably the most powerful job in sport has been Bach, and her victory was widely seen as the latest example of the power Bach has wielded over the IOC.
—Scott M. Reid, Orange County Register, 20 Mar. 2025
The intrigue: On the day of the shoot, crew members showed up wearing Kevlar armor and helmets and wielding riot shields.
—Shawna Chen, Axios, 20 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for wield
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Kaia Hubbard, CBS News, 25 Mar. 2025
Their ascent to power has coincided with the First Amendment being wielded as a shield against foreign regulations on digital platforms.
—Camille Grenier, The Conversation, 21 Mar. 2025
But the biggest influence of Coventry’s rise to arguably the most powerful job in sport has been Bach, and her victory was widely seen as the latest example of the power Bach has wielded over the IOC.
—Scott M. Reid, Orange County Register, 20 Mar. 2025
The intrigue: On the day of the shoot, crew members showed up wearing Kevlar armor and helmets and wielding riot shields.
—Shawna Chen, Axios, 20 Mar. 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 1 Apr. 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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