wear down

verb

wore down; worn down; wearing down; wears down
Synonyms of wear downnext

transitive verb

: to weary and overcome by persistent resistance or pressure

Examples of wear down in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Arafat, who sat down three straight Montverde hitters in the fourth, struck out 7 before wearing down and giving way to Josh Garcia in the sixth. Chris Hays, The Orlando Sentinel, 3 May 2026 As good as the Wild were in Round 1 in limiting the Stars’ 5-on-5 offense and eventually wearing down their opponent with physical play, Hynes has stressed constant improvement as the key to a deep playoff run. Jess Myers, Twin Cities, 2 May 2026 This time was about applying an impeccable finish to a team worn down by a lot of hockey over the last three years. Eric Stephens, New York Times, 1 May 2026 Consider osteoarthritis, which afflicts roughly 33 million Americans by gradually wearing down cartilage in the joints. Bryan T. Kelly, Fortune, 29 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for wear down

Word History

First Known Use

1774, in the meaning defined above

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

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Cite this Entry

“Wear down.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wear%20down. Accessed 5 May. 2026.

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