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

Repairs from normal wear and tear don’t count. —Andrea Riquier, USA Today, 1 Jan. 2026

But when a table has a wood veneer top, wear and tear simply makes a piece look damaged and can worsen over time, Billings explains. —Sarah Lyon, Southern Living, 31 Dec. 2025

My trusty knapsack has come with me on European adventures and weekend trips, but sadly, it’s begun to show signs of wear and tear after years of regular use. —Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 28 Dec. 2025

Research published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition in May 2025 found that supplementing with daily vitamin D3 can reduce biological wear and tear equivalent to nearly three years of aging. —Angelica Stabile, FOXNews.com, 26 Dec. 2025

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