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
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In finishing with 83 wins in each of the previous two years, the Cubs were thwarted by a bullpen that either wore down near the end of the season or failed in too many clutch moments. Patrick Mooney, New York Times, 29 Sep. 2025 If Ukraine needs to wear down the number of Russian artillery pieces, for instance, Fedorov can increase the number of points granted for destroying them. Simon Shuster, Time, 24 Sep. 2025 Sharpen Scissors and Shears Like any tool with a sharp blade, household scissors and kitchen shears wear down with continual use, but aluminum foil can help. Darcy Lenz, Southern Living, 24 Sep. 2025 Here, slowly being swallowed by vegetation and worn down by time, are gigantic mausoleums, vast underground cisterns, temples, imposing city walls and a breathtaking theater perched, like Machu Picchu, on a hilltop that offers views stretching for miles all around. Barry Neild, CNN Money, 23 Sep. 2025 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 1 Oct. 2025.

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