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View synonyms for wield

wield

[ weeld ]

verb (used with object)

  1. to exercise (power, authority, influence, etc.), as in ruling or dominating.

    Synonyms: utilize, employ, exert

  2. to use (a weapon, instrument, etc.) effectively; handle or employ actively.

    Synonyms: control, manipulate

  3. Archaic. to guide or direct.
  4. Archaic. to govern; manage.


wield

/ wiːld /

verb

  1. to handle or use (a weapon, tool, etc)
  2. to exert or maintain (power or authority)
  3. obsolete.
    to rule
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012


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Derived Forms

  • ˈwielder, noun
  • ˈwieldable, adjective
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Other Words From

  • wield·a·ble adjective
  • wield·er noun
  • un·wield·a·ble adjective
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Word History and Origins

Origin of wield1

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”
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Word History and Origins

Origin of wield1

Old English wieldan, wealdan; related to Old Norse valda, Old Saxon waldan, German walten, Latin valēre to be strong
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Example Sentences

Republicans who still hope to wield power through the system but disagree with its direction are left trying to figure out how to appeal to voters who want something they won’t provide.

That faction won’t immediately wield power, but they might eventually gather more steam.

Salsman allegedly targeted vulnerable women he felt he could wield power over, according to the charging document.

Senators, staff, media and police wielding automatic weapons grabbed lunches of chicken and beef.

Compassion, too, requires self-cultivation, and it means that harmful acts such as wielding one’s power to repress others have no place in Buddhist ethics.

But the last national figure to wield ancient personal authority in an explicitly religious way was Robert F. Kennedy.

They are elites, in short, even though they make less money and wield less power than others of that designation.

Few sore losers could wield sharp words quite like Leon Trotsky, especially when talking about Joseph Stalin.

Traditional authorities in social institutions such as churches wield less control too.

Women have been trying to wield Internet shame against men for years now to little avail.

Public opinion is mightier than Congress; and they who wield or control that do, in reality, bear rule.

Old Time is doing his work full well—Much less of might does the tyrant wield; But, ah!

Every Englishman who could wield a sword was called to the defense of his country.

Who has not known such without longing for a whip of scorpions, and a strong arm to wield it?

A hundred brawny arms, accustomed to wield the broad axe, had lent their aid to rear the mighty pile and feed the ravening flame.

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Wielandwielding