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
Still, the director wields significant authority over the $100 billion intelligence budget and oversees what makes it into the President’s Daily Brief.
—The Editors, National Review, 24 Jan. 2025
While posing as a child, the caller told police that their father was armed with a handgun and was wielding it inside their home, according to prosecutors.
—Julia Marnin, Sacramento Bee, 24 Jan. 2025
Trump’s admirers have often wielded memes as a marketing tool.
—Andrew R. Chow, TIME, 22 Jan. 2025
Still, a dramatic shift had occurred: Men no longer wielded a monopoly on public life.
—The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 22 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for wield 
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The Editors, National Review, 24 Jan. 2025
While posing as a child, the caller told police that their father was armed with a handgun and was wielding it inside their home, according to prosecutors.
—Julia Marnin, Sacramento Bee, 24 Jan. 2025
Trump’s admirers have often wielded memes as a marketing tool.
—Andrew R. Chow, TIME, 22 Jan. 2025
Still, a dramatic shift had occurred: Men no longer wielded a monopoly on public life.
—The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 22 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for wield
Dictionary Entries Near wield
Cite this Entry
“Wield.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wield. Accessed 30 Jan. 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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