wear and tear
noun
: the loss, injury, or stress to which something is subjected by or in the course of use
especially
: normal depreciation
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
By promoting usage of public transportation, the county can greatly reduce the emissions produced by vehicles and reduce wear and tear on our roads (which our tax dollars are constantly used to repair).
—
Lucas Robinson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 May 2026
The leather-alternative material is durable enough to handle regular wear and tear, withstand scuffs and scratches, and resist water in case you get caught in a surprise rain storm.
—Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 6 May 2026
The wear and tear of lengthy overtimes also hampered the Mammoth’s skaters.
—Shayna Goldman, New York Times, 6 May 2026
In the new study, Alessandro Cellerino of the Biology Laboratory at the Superior Normal School (SNS) in Italy and his colleagues investigated whether the shark’s heart was somehow armored against the wear and tear that comes with age.
—Jeanna Bryner, Scientific American, 4 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for wear and tear
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Lucas Robinson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 May 2026
The leather-alternative material is durable enough to handle regular wear and tear, withstand scuffs and scratches, and resist water in case you get caught in a surprise rain storm.
—Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 6 May 2026
The wear and tear of lengthy overtimes also hampered the Mammoth’s skaters.
—Shayna Goldman, New York Times, 6 May 2026
In the new study, Alessandro Cellerino of the Biology Laboratory at the Superior Normal School (SNS) in Italy and his colleagues investigated whether the shark’s heart was somehow armored against the wear and tear that comes with age.
—Jeanna Bryner, Scientific American, 4 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for wear and tear
Cite this Entry
“Wear and tear.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wear%20and%20tear. Accessed 8 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
