What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
wield
Example
The knight was able to wield his sword with great precision. [wield: verb]
Example
The CEO wields a lot of influence over the company's decisions. [wields: present tense]
Example
She knew how to wield her words to get what she wanted. [wield: verb]
employ
Example
We employ a variety of techniques to solve this problem. [employ: verb]
Example
The company decided to employ a new marketing strategy. [employ: verb]
Example
He was employed as a software engineer at the tech company. [employed: past tense]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Employ is more commonly used than wield in everyday language. Employ is a versatile verb that can be used in a variety of contexts, from hiring someone for a job to using a particular method to achieve a goal. Wield, on the other hand, is less common and is typically associated with specific contexts, such as the use of weapons or language.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between wield and employ?
Both wield and employ can be used in formal and informal contexts, but employ is more versatile and can be used in a wider range of formality levels.
