1
as in to erode
to damage or diminish by continued friction
all that walking every day wore the soles of my shoes very quickly
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in to kill
to use up all the physical energy of
the job of running their own business wears them sometimes
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to tolerate
British
to put up with (something painful or difficult)
her marriage is so bad—I don't know how she wears it
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in corrosion
the result of long and hard use
after several years, the carpet was finally showing wear
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in clothes
covering for the human body
the latest in fashionable wear
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of wear
Alanna Martine Kilkeary, Glamour, 2 Oct. 2025
The man was fully clothed, wearing a hoodie and jeans, and had a phone in his pocket, the assistant principal said.
—David Ferrara, Cincinnati Enquirer, 2 Oct. 2025
Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 29 Sep. 2025
The audience laughed, then a few hours later, its minds and anxieties provoked, spilled out into the warm September air a little heavier for the wear.
—Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 29 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for wear
Verb
The cool thing about this one is that it can be worn for a few hours or overnight for best results, and your skin will be nothing short of velvet-soft and bouncy post-application.
—Alanna Martine Kilkeary, Glamour, 2 Oct. 2025
The man was fully clothed, wearing a hoodie and jeans, and had a phone in his pocket, the assistant principal said.
—David Ferrara, Cincinnati Enquirer, 2 Oct. 2025
Noun
Create footpaths in these areas to reduce wear and damage to the lawn.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 29 Sep. 2025
The audience laughed, then a few hours later, its minds and anxieties provoked, spilled out into the warm September air a little heavier for the wear.
—Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 29 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for wear
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wear
Verb
-
And trust—the most precious resource in any health crisis—will continue to erode.—
Dr. Nikki Romanik,
Time,
1 Oct. 2025
-
For Allen, this legal tool disproportionately undermines Black communities, eroding generational wealth and disconnecting families from their neighborhoods.—
Essence,
Essence,
1 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Tom is torn between loyalty to his dead wife and love for the estranged son who killed her.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
6 Oct. 2025
-
How many people did Ed Gein kill in real life?—
JR Radcliffe,
jsonline.com,
6 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Here, grizzlies don’t equate people with food—as opposed to populated areas where alluring smells forge a connection—and have learned to tolerate humans, thanks to decades of naturalists adopting nonthreatening practices.—
Susan Portnoy,
AFAR Media,
3 Oct. 2025
-
Water Chocolate cosmos tolerate dry conditions once established, but thrive with regular irrigation.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
3 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Food/nonfood-contact surface is not durable, corrosion resistant and nonabsorbent.—
Gege Reed,
Louisville Courier Journal,
3 Oct. 2025
-
On the other hand, zinc sulfate adheres to the zinc metal surface, providing a protective layer that prevents damage and corrosion.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
30 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The roots frayed with nowhere to go.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
30 Sep. 2025
-
The stitching has begun to fray, the card slots have been stretched out over time, and the once-clear shield of the ID slot is, well… not so clear anymore.—
Amelia McBride,
Travel + Leisure,
28 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Incoming waves in rapid succession can tire even an experienced swimmer quickly.—
Anna Skinner,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Sep. 2025
-
Ali covered his face and tried to absorb Frazier’s metronomic body blows, aiming to tire him.—
Vann R. Newkirk II,
The Atlantic,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Fortunately, humidity will be low so foliage viewers won't have to endure that aspect of summer heat.—
Doyle Rice,
USA Today,
4 Oct. 2025
-
Even decades later, the memory of Brenda and baby Erica endures.—
Stephanie Nolasco,
FOXNews.com,
4 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
When co-anchor Colin Jost pointed out that, per the book's lore, the clothing items mean Dobby is now free, the house elf jumped for joy — while Yang desperately clung to the fabric at his shoulders to keep it from sliding entirely off.—
Shania Russell,
Entertainment Weekly,
5 Oct. 2025
-
Investigators recovered more bones, clothing and personal effects, but other than determining the remains belonged to a woman who was at least middle-aged, could not identify her, deputies said.—
Don Sweeney,
Sacbee.com,
5 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Wear.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wear. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.
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