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

Derived Forms

• ˈwielder, noun
• ˈwieldable, adjective

Other Words From

• wield·a·ble adjective
• wield·er noun
• un·wield·a·ble adjective

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”

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

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.

From Washington Post

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

From FiveThirtyEight

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

From Washington Post

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

From Washington Post

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.

From MIT Technology Review

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

From The Daily Beast

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

From The Daily Beast

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

From The Daily Beast

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

From The Daily Beast

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

From The Daily Beast

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

From Project Gutenberg

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

From Project Gutenberg

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

From Project Gutenberg

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

From Project Gutenberg

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

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• apply
• brandish
• employ
• exert
• handle
• maintain
• manipulate
• operate
• possess
• swing