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

War, sanctions and severe economic pressure may have pushed compulsory hijab wearing down the government’s list of priorities, but a temporary retreat in enforcement is not the same thing as recognition of a right. — Pegah Banihashemi, Chicago Tribune, 18 Sep. 2026

Rich Handel, laundry expert at Consumer Reports, warns that tossing heavy fabrics like denim in with lighter or more delicate pieces creates excess friction that wears down the softer items. — Ryan Brennan, Sacbee.com, 17 Sep. 2026

If even one lightly worn outfit per week can be aired or refreshed instead of washed, that adds up to hundreds of gallons of water saved and 52 fewer cycles wearing down your wardrobe. — Ryan Brennan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 Sep. 2026

Avoid abrasive tools like steel wool or rough scrubbers, which can scratch surfaces and wear down markings. — Jamie Cuccinelli, Martha Stewart, 17 Sep. 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