wielded

verb

past tense of wield
as in exerted
to bring to bear especially forcefully or effectively wields considerable influence in the field of women's sports

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of wielded Hope Davis as Nancy Reagan Hope Davis plays Nancy Reagan, who, beyond her duties as first lady, was one of her husband’s closest confidantes and wielded considerable influence behind the scenes during his presidency. — Samantha Stutsman, PEOPLE, 15 Aug. 2026 At a time when everyone was watching the same handful of TV channels, Winfrey wielded immeasurable influence on her audience. — Raechal Shewfelt, Entertainment Weekly, 13 Aug. 2026 When individuals and institutions have spoken out against policy toward Israel, the president has wielded the power of the state to attack them, withholding funding from universities and deporting and jailing protesters. — Michael Fuchs, Foreign Affairs, 6 Aug. 2026 Republicans are ready with plenty of fodder from El-Sayed’s past comments; his unrelenting criticism of Israel will be wielded to sway Michigan’s Jewish voters to either back Rogers or sit the race out. — Philip Elliott, Time, 5 Aug. 2026 Indeed, in retrospect, the ruling at The Hague a decade ago was the harbinger of a new global order — one based not on rules, norms, and conventions but, increasingly, raw power wielded by the strong against the weak. — Andy Browne, semafor.com, 4 Aug. 2026 All three musicians played virtuosically, and all three wielded their astounding dexterity to drag against the grain of pop appeal. — Sasha Geffen, Pitchfork, 2 Aug. 2026 What this means is open to interpretation, but it is wielded here primarily as a slogan of battlefield aggression—a rallying cry for soldiers who have been trained to abandon their fears, push bravely onward, and embrace a glorious death. — Justin Chang, New Yorker, 30 July 2026 This isn’t the first time Tillis has wielded his political leverage during a high-stakes nomination process. — Ben Wieder, Los Angeles Times, 30 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wielded
  1. exerted
  2. used
  3. applied
Verb
  • But atmospheric drag intensified by solar activity exerted its forces on the observatory.
    — Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Igbo, Yoruba, and Hausa, the big three of the three hundred–plus ethnicities that made up the national character, exerted their outsized influence in the shattering wave of military coups that preceded and followed the brutal civil war.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of exerted
Verb
  • According to the Financial Times, the Wall Street bank boss used the conversation to lobby the British government against creating a more hostile tax environment for banks.
    — Leonie Kidd, CNBC, 17 Aug. 2026
  • But Roman says that in cross-examination, the defense used the same searches to highlight their argument that Clancy was overmedicated, failed by the medical system, and experiencing postpartum psychosis at the time.
    — Aaron Parseghian, CBS News, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of used
Verb
  • The new agreement effectively asks whether some of that industrial expertise can be applied to quantum computers.
    — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 16 Aug. 2026
  • Many programs offer points or per-gallon discounts that can be applied to future fuel purchases, Droesch explains.
    — Caroline Lubinsky, Martha Stewart, 16 Aug. 2026
Definition of applied

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wield
wielded
wielding
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Cite this Entry

“Wielded.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wielded. Accessed 17 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of wielded for Spanish Speakers

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