wield
verb (used with object)
to exercise (power, authority, influence, etc.), as in ruling or dominating.
have wielded
-
present perfectof wield.present perfect
Used to describe actions that started in the past and continue into or have direct relevance to the present.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Effective altruism and its fears that AI could wipe out humanity have wielded big influence at Anthropic.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 27, 2026
Musk even admitted he shouldn’t have wielded that chainsaw because it lacked empathy.
From Salon ● Jul. 2, 2025
What’s changed is that the key point of leverage outside groups have wielded, for good and for ill, over housing construction in California communities is gone.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 1, 2025
But since 2022, Uber and Lyft have wielded opaque algorithms that seem to incorporate data collected on workers to determine pay for each ride, offering increasingly meager amounts with little explanation.
From Slate ● Oct. 13, 2024
In the hands of Providence, other lands in other times have taken up painting and sculpture with their whole might, and have wielded them to advance civilization.
From The Continental Monthly, Vol. 2, No. 1, July, 1862 by Various
