wear and tear

Definition of wear and tearnext
as in wear
the result of long and hard use my favorite jeans finally succumbed to wear and tear and had to be replaced

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 wear and tear Sarah Strong is not playing any international tournaments this summer, and limiting her on-court wear and tear to try to get her calf and Achilles issues behind her. Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 19 June 2026 The star ingredient, bis-aminopropyl diglycol dimaleate (say that five times fast), reconnects broken disulfide bonds in the hair, which can be damaged by heat styling, coloring, and everyday wear and tear. Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 19 June 2026 Some tanks turn into rags after a few washes, but Quince's cotton modal top is a workhorse that holds up to endless wear and tear. Tanya Sharma, PEOPLE, 17 June 2026 But less has been said about the rising price of motor oil, the lubricant that protects your car's engine from wear and tear. Camila Domonoske, NPR, 16 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for wear and tear
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wear and tear
wear
Noun
  • Amazon has deals on the exact brands the multi-hyphenate wears and raves about, plus pieces pulled straight from her playbook (cough, her Instagram, cough).
    Annie Blackman, InStyle, 3 July 2026
  • The impression was bolstered Friday afternoon when dozens of A-list celebrities were seen heading into the venue in formal wear, from Karlie Kloss and Hugh Grant to Jason Sudeikis and Chris Jones.
    Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 3 July 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Wear and tear.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wear%20and%20tear. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.

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