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

The cause of the damage must be normal wear and tear, and the repair must be covered in your contract. —Dan Simms, USA Today, 12 Mar. 2026

These are also machine washable, meaning despite coffee spills and the general wear and tear of a fitful sleeper, these can be properly cleaned in the wash. —Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 11 Mar. 2026

Botts worked on a project to develop a new reflective paint for lane markers to withstand the wear and tear of the road, Transport Topics said. —Don Sweeney, Sacbee.com, 11 Mar. 2026

Another way to keep your mattress in tip-top shape is to rotate it every three months, which prevents uneven wear and tear. —Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 Mar. 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