Showing results for "wielding"

• present participle of wield.

wielding

American  

[weel-ding] / ˈwil dɪŋ /

adjective

1. exercising power, authority, influence, etc..

   Russia is a veto-wielding member of the UN Security Council.

   Discussion focused on the accountability of power-wielding institutions.

2. using or actively handling a weapon, instrument, etc..

   A torch-wielding group of nationalists gathered around the statue for a nighttime protest.

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noun

1. the act of exercising power or authority or of using or handling a weapon, instrument, etc..

   Many programs have fallen to the government’s ceaseless wielding of the budget-cutting knife.

Etymology

Origin of wielding

First recorded in 1575–85; wield ( def. ) + -ing ² ( def. ) for the adjective senses; wield ( def. ) + -ing ¹ ( def. ) for the noun sense

Example Sentences

In Seattle's Ballard district, a drag queen was wielding a microphone and putting on a show ahead of the World Cup meeting of Iran and Egypt.

From Barron's • Jun. 27, 2026

A century ago, Rockefeller rode the wave of industrialization by building Standard Oil into a behemoth, wielding influence over railroads and pipelines.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 3, 2026

“Guys, thank you for coming to my midlife crisis,” said Eric André, standing on a podium in front of the Colburn Orchestra in a black tuxedo with tails and wielding a baton.

From Los Angeles Times • May 18, 2026

A response was sorely needed and the Newcastle head coach attempted to jolt his side by wielding the axe.

From BBC • Apr. 12, 2026

Of course it’s Finnick, who seems to have spent his childhood doing nothing but wielding tridents and manipulating ropes into fancy knots for nets, I guess.

From "Catching Fire" by Suzanne Collins

Related Words

• charge
• handling
• management
• manipulation
• oversight
• plan
• policy
• strategy
• transaction
• treatment