wear down

verb

wore down; worn down; wearing down; wears down

transitive verb

: to weary and overcome by persistent resistance or pressure

Examples of wear down in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Anything below 20,000 double rubs may wear down faster and is better suited to a bouclé loveseat, accent chair or other low-traffic piece of bouclé furniture. — Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 22 July 2026

Burnham is the country’s seventh prime minister in a decade, as one political leader after another proves no match for a stubbornly weak economy, which has weighed on incomes and living standards, wearing down the electorate. — Hanna Ziady, CNN Money, 20 July 2026

Achane, an underrated offensive line, a running quarterback and a Miami heat that wears down defenses. — Vic Tafur, New York Times, 17 July 2026

The relaxed-fit blouse features a curved layered hem with side slits and quarter-length sleeves that can be rolled up or worn down. — Emily Weaver, PEOPLE, 17 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1774, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for wear down

• adown
• blowdown
• breakdown
• countdown
• crackdown
• crosstown
• downtown
• drawdown
• dropdown
• facedown
• godown
• hometown