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 Music continued to dominate as the evening wore down, especially in the tribute to Fleming. Travis M. Andrews, Washington Post, 4 Dec. 2023 My trigger been pulled so much, the striker got wore down. Anna Deavere Smith, The Atlantic, 13 Nov. 2023 They were pressured on five other occasions while Alabama had just 110 rushing yards through three quarters before finally wearing down a spunky USF defense in the fourth. Michael Casagrande | McAsagrande@al.com, al, 16 Sep. 2023 In anticipation of the July 29 ceremony, fans and media outlets alike were wild with curiosity about what Diana would wear down the aisle. Catherine Santino, Peoplemag, 9 Aug. 2023 Above all, though, his Hoosiers were known for their relentless man-to-man defense, which frustrated opponents, forced them into mistakes and inevitably wore down their will. Matt Schudel, Washington Post, 1 Nov. 2023 The rubber outsole has circular designs for traction and durability that doesn’t wear down easily. Lauren Fischer, Peoplemag, 1 Nov. 2023 If your windows and doors are older, this is the best insulation kit for replacing the seals that can wear down over time. Belle Duchene, Better Homes & Gardens, 31 Oct. 2023 Charlo doesn’t throw or move enough to tire out or wear down Álvarez. Manouk Akopyan, Los Angeles Times, 30 Sep. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'wear down.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1774, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of wear down was in 1774

Dictionary Entries Near wear down

Cite this Entry

“Wear down.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wear%20down. Accessed 9 Dec. 2023.

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