The man was wielding a gun. Can he wield a hammer? He wields a great deal of influence over his students.
Recent Examples on the WebUkraine has long telegraphed its intention to wield a counterpunch in the south, leading the Russians to shift thousands of troops there from Ukraine’s east. James Marson, WSJ, 29 Aug. 2022 After having little to do in the first couple episodes, despite the series ostensibly being about her character, Von Rittberg finally gets to stretch her muscles as Elizabeth starts trying to wield her power and influence in her own way. Caroline Framke, Variety, 10 June 2022 They are now experienced XR producers and directors with hard won experience and the confidence to wield this new medium in unique and dramatic ways. Charlie Fink, Forbes, 25 Mar. 2022 Ras al-Khaimah is the northern-most emirate in the UAE, a federation in which individual autocratic rulers wield wide powers in their emirate. Jon Gambrell, ajc, 25 Jan. 2022 Maduro has threatened to wield his mustache against adversaries in the past.Washington Post, 12 Dec. 2021 How the government might wield that authority, or tighten requirements on water use, hasn’t been spelled out.Los Angeles Times, 4 Sep. 2022 The intervention also offers clues to how Putin wants to wield military power abroad, as has been seen in the last several weeks in the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine. Isaac Chotiner, The New Yorker, 9 Mar. 2022 Those internal schisms could widen even further when Republicans are in power and the Freedom Caucus has to make key decisions about how to wield its influence and use its megaphone. Melanie Zanona, CNN, 8 Mar. 2022 See More
Word History
Etymology
Middle English welden to control, from Old English wieldan; akin to Old High German waltan to rule, Latin valēre to be strong, be worth
First Known Use
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Time Traveler
The first known use of wield was before the 12th century