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
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.
These Black women wield substantial influence in shaping transformative technology within systems that, historically, would have excluded their intersecting identities. Essence, 13 Jan. 2025 Amid the medical turmoil, an unexpected figure has emerged—a civilian without an official government role is now set to wield unprecedented influence over the federal budget. Robert Pearl, Forbes, 13 Jan. 2025 Members of Arkansas' congressional delegation are wielding tremendous influence at the start of this new Congress. Alex Thomas, arkansasonline.com, 12 Jan. 2025 Amika Mota was drenched, bone-tired, and shaking after her first-ever pump and roll, a fire-fighting technique where the fire truck creeps toward the blaze as personnel wield the massive hose alongside it. Brenna Ehrlich, Rolling Stone, 11 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for wield 

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 Jan. 2025.

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
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!