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
All this time later, western beats still sounds like an imperative to turn the plastic knife of consumerism back at the ones who wield it.
—Billie Bugara, Pitchfork, 7 Feb. 2026
Hollywood has long wielded both quiet and overt influence in the nation’s capital.
—Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 7 Feb. 2026
Patrick, a former state senator and conservative talk radio host from Houston, has held the lieutenant governor’s office for 10 years, wielding enormous control over the legislative agenda and the fate of bills in the Texas Senate.
—Karen Brooks Harper, Dallas Morning News, 7 Feb. 2026
Earlier this week, sledghammer-wielding thieves also broke into Hashtag 95 restaurant in Oak Lawn.
—Jermont Terry, CBS News, 7 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for wield
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Billie Bugara, Pitchfork, 7 Feb. 2026
Hollywood has long wielded both quiet and overt influence in the nation’s capital.
—Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 7 Feb. 2026
Patrick, a former state senator and conservative talk radio host from Houston, has held the lieutenant governor’s office for 10 years, wielding enormous control over the legislative agenda and the fate of bills in the Texas Senate.
—Karen Brooks Harper, Dallas Morning News, 7 Feb. 2026
Earlier this week, sledghammer-wielding thieves also broke into Hashtag 95 restaurant in Oak Lawn.
—Jermont Terry, CBS News, 7 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for wield
Cite this Entry
“Wield.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wield. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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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