wear and tear

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

Relevance

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 Pleasant to the touch and resistant to wear and tear, linen robes also boast high absorbency and thermoregulation properties. Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 5 Sep. 2025 Every sensor and circuit must withstand the wear and tear of constant deployment, because lives might depend not on a single success but on predictable excellence day after day. Divyaditya Shrivastava, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025 After that came 20 games, transverse process fractures in his back, an ankle injury and the accumulating wear and tear of what amounted to an 18-month sprint. Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 31 Aug. 2025 City officials have said that moving to one provider would lower trash bills for most customers and would reduce wear and tear on city streets, along with noise and pollution, since fewer trucks would be driving to pick up waste weekly. Ilana Arougheti, Kansas City Star, 30 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for wear and tear
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wear and tear
wear
Noun
  • Its square neck frames your face and the smocked material stretches to stay comfortable for all-day wear.
    Caley Sturgill, Southern Living, 18 Sep. 2025
  • Pumping efficiency declines, arteries are less flexible, valves often show significant wear, and irregular rhythms are more frequent.
    Lauryn Higgins, Time, 17 Sep. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Wear and tear.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wear%20and%20tear. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on wear and tear

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!