wear and tear

noun

: the loss, injury, or stress to which something is subjected by or in the course of use

especially : normal depreciation

Synonyms of wear and tear

• wear

Examples of wear and tear in a Sentence

my favorite jeans finally succumbed to wear and tear and had to be replaced

Recent Examples on the Web

But Vrabel is looking to limit the injuries that come from wear and tear and exhaustion on the field. — Chad Graff, New York Times, 16 Sep. 2026

Aging was once viewed as simple wear and tear, like a machine slowly breaking down, but modern biology has revealed a more complicated picture. — Venki Ramakrishnan, Scientific American, 15 Sep. 2026

Home warranties are designed for normal wear and tear, not every problem that can happen in a house. — Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 14 Sep. 2026

The wear and tear of being an MLB pitcher for more than a decade was taking its toll — shoulder pain (on both sides), the lingering effects of Tommy John surgery, the scars of a broken finger and a broken wrist. — Chad Bishop, AJC.com, 11 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1666, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for wear and tear

• aftercare
• anywhere
• billionaire
• chinaware
• debonair
• dinnerware
• disrepair
• doctrinaire
• earthenware
• everywhere
• frigidaire
• kitchenware

Kids Definition

wear and tear

noun

: the loss or damage that occurs to something in the course of normal use