wear 1 of 2

verb

ˈwer How to pronounce wear (audio)
Definition of wearnext
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

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2
as in to kill
to use up all the physical energy of the job of running their own business wears them sometimes

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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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

wear

2 of 2

noun

1
as in corrosion
the result of long and hard use after several years, the carpet was finally showing wear

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in clothes
covering for the human body the latest in fashionable wear

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Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of wear
Verb
The image showed a younger Bloom wearing a back brace while riding a bicycle. — Diana Pearl, PEOPLE, 15 Aug. 2026 London stockbrokers went to work wearing black armbands in mourning for the loss of their heroic detective. — Richard Lederer, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Aug. 2026
Noun
In This Article Kitchen cabinets get a lot of wear since they’re constantly being opened, slammed, and bumped all day long. — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 13 Aug. 2026 The linen-blend fabric is also lightweight and easy to move in for all-day wear. — Melody Kazel, PEOPLE, 13 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for wear
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wear
  1. erode
  2. kill
  3. tolerate
  4. corrosion
  5. clothing
  6. fray
  7. tire
  8. endure
Verb
  • Hence the switch, a year or so after the film’s release, to a stadium now named after the latest in a long line of sponsors that, for all the vital money brought in, have slightly eroded identity.
    — Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 13 Aug. 2026
  • If Chinese production pushes hardware prices into a freefall, the collateral backing hundreds of billions in private loans could erode far faster than the terms of the debt itself, leaving investors exposed to losses, according to Emons.
    — Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of erode
Verb
  • Last week, prosecutors attempted to use electronic materials to lay out their theory that Clancy premeditated killing her three children.
    — Aaron Parseghian, CBS News, 17 Aug. 2026
  • Police have said that’s exactly what Fernandez Saldana tried to do in hiring a man to shoot and kill Bridegan.
    — Danya Gainor, CNN Money, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of kill
Verb
  • Stern’s decisive response to the Malice at the Palace – the suspensions of the players as well as the punishments meted out to the fans – sent a clear message that such behavior would not be tolerated.
    — Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 12 Aug. 2026
  • People with digestive conditions that require a temporary low-fiber diet during flare-ups may also need to limit unhulled sesame seeds, since their fiber-rich outer hull can be difficult to tolerate.
    — Daryl Austin, USA Today, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of tolerate
Noun
  • Mixing different coolant chemistries can reduce corrosion protection and shorten coolant life.
    — John Paul Senior Manager Public Affairs And Traffic Safety Aaa Northeast, Hartford Courant, 15 Aug. 2026
  • Copper provides strong resistance against chemical corrosion from surrounding groundwater.
    — Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of corrosion
Noun
  • Wildberries initially sold clothing before expanding to appliances, household items, cosmetics, books and more.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 17 Aug. 2026
  • Sunday marked the grand opening of the center's Community Baby Closet, which offers resources such as diapers, wipes, newborn clothing, baby gear and postpartum supplies.
    — Christa Swanson, CBS News, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of clothing
Verb
  • The long-staple cotton threads are less likely to fray or feel rough to the touch, helping the sheets maintain that smooth finish over time.
    — Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 12 Aug. 2026
  • More drones and missiles are slipping through both sides’ fraying air defenses, meaning that the civilian death toll has increased, and more critical infrastructure is being damaged.
    — Issy Ronald, CNN Money, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of fray
Verb
  • In other words, an evening session does not just tire you out.
    — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson July 23, Kansas City Star, 23 July 2026
  • The game slows not only because bodies tire more quickly, but because players begin pacing themselves earlier — conserving energy for the moments that matter most.
    — Alan McCall, New York Times, 11 July 2026
Definition of tire
Verb
  • Swaths of Europe are enduring their fifth heatwave of the year this week, with parts of Britain, France, Spain and Italy under extreme heat warnings.
    — Hanna Ziady, CNN Money, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Yet for Asian countries that endured Japanese imperial rule and expansion, Yasukuni remains a symbol of Japan’s militarism.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of endure

Phrases Containing wear

Browse Nearby Words

weapons
wear
wearables
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Cite this Entry

“Wear.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wear. Accessed 17 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on wear

Nglish: Translation of wear for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about wear

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