wield
Americanverb (used with object)
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to exercise (power, authority, influence, etc.), as in ruling or dominating.
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to use (a weapon, instrument, etc.) effectively; handle or employ actively.
- Synonyms:
- control, manipulate
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Archaic. to guide or direct.
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Archaic. to govern; manage.
verb
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to handle or use (a weapon, tool, etc)
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to exert or maintain (power or authority)
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obsolete to rule
Other Word Forms
- unwieldable adjective
- wieldable adjective
- wielder noun
Etymology
Origin of wield
First recorded before 900; Middle English welden, Old English wieldan “to control,” derivative of wealdan “to rule”; cognate with German walten, Old Norse valda, Gothic waldan; akin to Latin valēre “to be strong, prevail”
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.
Everyone can pass judgment, and it’s critical to analyze how we wield such power.
From Salon • Apr. 9, 2026
“The power that women wield has always been at the core of who I am an artist.”
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 20, 2026
The most prominent reason is that governments — the biggest customers of defense companies — wield an outsize influence over their fortunes.
From MarketWatch • Mar. 11, 2026
While the Iranian leadership settles on a new leader, other figures are positioned to wield influence.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 1, 2026
Hadn’t he proved that he could wield magic?
From "The Way to Rio Luna" by Zoraida Cordova
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
