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
By that stage, Mbappe was wearing the expression of a man who knew that the game had slipped away. — Stuart James, New York Times, 18 July 2026 The man who relieved McAfee was wearing a Diablo vest with a red T-shirt underneath. — Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 18 July 2026
Noun
The commercial seal stabilized after a 10-day wear-in period, during which friction created a microscopic gap that balanced internal pressure. — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 15 July 2026 Poor thermostat placement can cause inaccurate readings, higher energy bills, HVAC wear, and uncomfortable home temperatures. — Timothy Dale, The Spruce, 15 July 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
  • Without that know-how, the investment sits idle and erodes unseen.
    — Kerry Huang, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026
  • This smoke has eroded decades of air quality improvements in parts of the US, particularly in the West.
    — Brandon Miller, CNN Money, 17 July 2026
Definition of erode
Verb
  • During the first four months of 2026 alone, drone strikes killed at least 880 civilians and accounted for more than 80% of civilian deaths recorded by the UN.
    — Nimi Princewill, CNN Money, 20 July 2026
  • The fire killed 168 people, most likely because of unscrupulous contractors who used shoddy materials.
    — New York Times, New York Times, 20 July 2026
Definition of kill
Verb
  • The Steamfitters were staging protests outside the Pfizer site, accusing the MetroLoft — which employs a mix of union and nonunion contractors — of building on the cheap and tolerating unsafe work conditions.
    — Andrew Rice, Curbed, 23 July 2026
  • The remaining mainstream buyers, who are far more price-sensitive and less willing to tolerate the inconveniences of electric vehicles, aren’t gobbling up the technology.
    — Michael Harley, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026
Definition of tolerate
Noun
  • If that tech notes signs of long-term wear, corrosion or a prior bad repair, the company classifies the claim as preexisting and denies it.
    — Sharon Wu, USA Today, 17 July 2026
  • The two partners also aim to create fusion-grade FLiBe to reduce corrosion and material activation during long-term reactor operation.
    — Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 16 July 2026
Definition of corrosion
Noun
  • On the clothing rack hung a navy winter coat, a black interview suit, one white dress shirt, and a Burberry scarf that Isul’s aunt had sent last Christmas.
    — Min Jin Lee, New Yorker, 19 July 2026
  • In the summer months, the Marché du Cap Ferret is open daily, with wine stands and produce vendors inside the covered hall (Chez Cocotte is a must-visit) and stalls outside sporting jewelry and clothing.
    — Lane Nieset, Travel + Leisure, 19 July 2026
Definition of clothing
Verb
  • Meanwhile, the goals of the war have frayed and multiplied, with the United States now putting out fires of its own making.
    — Tom Nichols, The Atlantic, 19 July 2026
  • This is true for the reasons outlined above (lack of safety features and fraying cords), but also because the bulbs get extremely hot.
    — Wendy Rose Gould, Martha Stewart, 17 July 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
  • Despite Venezuela’s petroleum-rich reserves, its citizens have endured extreme poverty, food insecurity and political instability for decades.
    — Syra Ortiz-Blanes, Miami Herald, 24 July 2026
  • If Republicans pressed ahead with a potpourri of government spending to shore up shuttered agencies, vulnerable incumbents would have to endure two unlimited Senate vote-a-ramas.
    — Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 23 July 2026
Definition of endure

Phrases Containing wear

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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 24 Jul. 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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