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

Lai was a key figure in the protests, wielding his most influential asset, the hugely popular newspaper, Apple Daily, in the hope of shaping Hong Kong into a liberal democracy.

From BBC

These militias are part of the paramilitary Popular Mobilisation Forces and are widely seen in the country as wielding considerable behind-the-scenes power in government and in commerce.

From BBC

Firefighters wielding fire hoses struggled to temper the blaze, which roared into the night and through the next day.

From The Wall Street Journal

“Attention. We have been robbed by an aboatia, a girl wielding a sword purchased from Amazon, a rogue Queen Mother, and a young man with terrible fashion sense,” Tano’s voice sounds over the intercoms.

From Literature

It said China is wielding its economic leverage—through ports, logistics hubs and surveillance outposts—for greater military access and security influence.

From Barron's

Related Words

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