wield

[ weeld ]

/ wild /

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See synonyms for: wield / wielded / wielding on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object)

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

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

Archaic. to guide or direct.

Archaic. to govern; manage.

OTHER WORDS FOR wield

1 exert, employ, utilize.

2 manipulate, control.

See synonyms for wield on Thesaurus.com

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Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of wield

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

OTHER WORDS FROM wield

wield·a·ble, adjectivewielder, nounun·wield·a·ble, adjective

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH wield

weald, wield

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use wield in a sentence

They are wielding the court’s impact on health care to get Democrats to the polls, but they can’t they do anything to stop an ultraconservative Supreme Court from deciding to take down Obamacare.
With no tools to halt Barrett’s confirmation, Democrats fall back on symbolic resistance|Amber Phillips|October 22, 2020|Washington Post
Humanity’s trajectory from tool-wielding hominins to the architects of grand metropolises has been interwoven with our ever-expanding sense of time.
Humanity is stuck in short-term thinking. Here’s how we escape.|Katie McLean|October 21, 2020|MIT Technology Review
He said Democrats might wield them differently, working in conjunction with allies for instance, or use them to address different matters, such as environmental or human rights issues.
No matter who wins the election, US fashion manufacturing won’t be returning to China|Marc Bain|October 16, 2020|Quartz
One year before he started giving out seditious language tickets, he shot a mentally ill man wielding scissors on the same street.
Officers Who Wrote Multiple Seditious Language Tickets Have Been Accused of Other Violations|Kara Grant|October 14, 2020|Voice of San Diego

A robotic arm then wields a spatula and grabs baskets full of food to fry.
This Week’s Awesome Tech Stories From Around the Web (Through October 10)|Singularity Hub Staff|October 10, 2020|Singularity Hub
In beauty thou art the most beautiful of all that exists, O Rudra, the strongest of the strong, thou wielder of the thunderbolt!
Sacred Books of the East|Various
Arjun, wielder of gandiva, was for us no truer stay Than was Karna for the Kurus in the battle's dread array!
Maha-bharata|Anonymous
The sledge-wielder pours out more strength and certitude and joy in every blow than do you in your whole sheaf of songs.
The Kempton-Wace Letters|Jack London
O wielder of the bow with the left hand, O thou of mighty arms, thou wert a god before, eternal (as other gods).
Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa Bk. 3 Pt. 1|Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa
But the wielder of the Pinaka, having borne that shower of arrows for a moment, stood unwounded, immovable like a hill.
Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa Bk. 3 Pt. 1|Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa

British Dictionary definitions for wield

wield

/ (wiːld) /

verb (tr)

to handle or use (a weapon, tool, etc)

to exert or maintain (power or authority)

obsolete to rule

Derived forms of wield

wieldable, adjectivewielder, noun

Word Origin for wield

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

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

wield

OTHER WORDS FOR wield

Origin of wield

OTHER WORDS FROM wield

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH wield

Words related to wield

How to use wield in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for wield

Derived forms of wield

Word Origin for wield