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

The sole might give less support, the overlays wear down, and the outsole’s tread can go bald like a pair of tires. — Caroline Lubinsky, Martha Stewart, 25 Aug. 2026

In Toronto, Babcock favoured a structured system that emphasized five-man breakouts, an aggressive forecheck, and heavy cycling below the goal line to wear down opponents. — Janson Duench, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026

Hours of sitting, commuting, standing desks, video calls, and back-to-back schedules can still leave the body feeling worn down. — Nia Bowers, USA Today, 25 Aug. 2026

During the dog days of August, catchers can wear down at the plate. — Mike Barner, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 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