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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
For a lunch outing at the Beverly Hills Hotel yesterday, Depp was the portrait of a lady in a knee-length black dress, worn with sheer black hosiery and a tan suede Chanel shoulder bag. — Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 17 Sep. 2026 Adidas is even reduced its use of carbon fiber to the rim of midsole on the Pro Evo 3, which was worn for the first (and second) sub-two-hour marathons in London this spring. — Ian Servantes, Footwear News, 17 Sep. 2026
Noun
Socks are the practical choice for daily wear, while boots suit post-exercise recovery or long days on your feet. — Samantha Agate, Sacbee.com, 14 Sep. 2026 Their sporty silhouettes made from recycled plastic bottles have a contemporary streetwise feel, and the spring 2027 collection featured a range of fun scarf and polka-dot prints rarely seen in the outdoor-wear universe. — Alex Wynne, Footwear News, 14 Sep. 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
  • Bigger paychecks sought While the economy may be showing signs of acceleration, stubborn inflation has eroded Americans’ take-home pay.
    — Christopher Rugaber, Los Angeles Times, 18 Sep. 2026
  • And the risk factors — high spending, low growth, rising debt and elevated borrowing costs — lead some economists to warn that while Russia's economy has not collapsed, its structural foundations are eroding dangerously.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 18 Sep. 2026
Definition of erode
Verb
  • Saudi officials said debris from a Houthi drone also killed one civilian and injured others.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 21 Sep. 2026
  • For the most part, garlic grows best if it’s planted about a week or two after the first killing frost in the fall, followed by exposure to several months of cool weather before the spring season starts.
    — Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Sep. 2026
Definition of kill
Verb
  • These irreparable harms should not be tolerated for a day longer.
    — Ted Johnson, Deadline, 21 Sep. 2026
  • Our criminal system deliberately places the burden on the government and tolerates the possibility that guilty people will go free rather than lower the standard required to convict.
    — Monu Bedi, Chicago Tribune, 20 Sep. 2026
Definition of tolerate
Noun
  • Aluminum targets tougher battery demands The coated aluminum can be used for battery enclosures and casings, where corrosion protection can help improve component durability.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 19 Sep. 2026
  • The company has paired AI with wall-climbing robots to detect corrosion, predict equipment failures, and reduce shutdown times, Semafor reported.
    — Matthew Martin, semafor.com, 17 Sep. 2026
Definition of corrosion
Noun
  • However, Amao’s curiosity about modern, western clothing and a nearby bustling community of Baptist converts threatens their existence.
    — Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 20 Sep. 2026
  • California resale platforms from San Francisco to Oakland have turned thrifted clothing into a high-fashion, high-tech industry, helping drive a $240-billion secondhand market that’s growing far faster than retail.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 19 Sep. 2026
Definition of clothing
Verb
  • Despite fraying relations with FIFA, the vibe once the sport began was largely good.
    — Adam Crafton, New York Times, 13 Sep. 2026
  • In addition to Robinhood, OG’s exchange powers sports bets for FanDuel Predicts, expanding that relationship as FanDuel’s partnership with CME Group appeared to fray.
    — Dan Bernstein, Sportico.com, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of fray
Verb
  • For the project Winter and her team tired coupling plasma with electrocatalysis.
    — Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 17 Sep. 2026
  • Shelton’s serve had manacled him just enough; the first set’s effort had tired him just enough.
    — Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of tire
Verb
  • Exploring the dialogue between Italy’s artisanal heritage and emerging technologies like artificial intelligence, the event considers how the handmade endures in an era of rapid innovation.
    — Eleonora Giordani, Vogue, 17 Sep. 2026
  • That was a disquieting pointer to Federal Reserve Board policy, for the central bank counted controlling inflation, not enduring full employment, as one of its mandates.
    — Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 17 Sep. 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 23 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on wear

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about wear

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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