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.
Most alarmingly, courts have wielded the statute to crush lawsuits that accuse social media companies of negligently providing a defective product.
From Slate ● Mar. 30, 2026
For decades, the McOskers — a large, tight-knit Irish Catholic family from San Pedro — have wielded power at Los Angeles City Hall.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 6, 2025
Musk even admitted he shouldn’t have wielded that chainsaw because it lacked empathy.
From Salon ● Jul. 2, 2025
But affected firms have wielded their most powerful weapon against the ban: complaints.
From New York Times ● Jan. 16, 2023
During all this time, she conscientiously adhered to her convictions, and respected the rights of the minority, though she might have wielded her power, if she had been so inclined, to her own advantage.
From Memoirs of Service Afloat, During the War Between the States by Raphael Semmes
