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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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
What to wear with high-rise jeans High-rise jeans do an excellent job of bringing the gaze to your waist, creating an hourglass figure. — Bianca Kratky, Glamour, 29 Oct. 2026 Underneath, Lawrence doubled down on the yellow-green palette with a lime Miu Miu wool cardigan, worn over a white T-shirt and loose black trousers. — Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 29 Oct. 2026
Noun
This kind of cross-pollination—bondage wear combined with eighteenth-century pastoral—will surely inspire students at the neighboring London College of Fashion. — Rebecca Mead, New Yorker, 26 Oct. 2026 Rioters last weekend smashed their way into stores, targeting sneakers, athletic wear and sporting goods on streets that run off the city’s central Duomo square. — ABC News, 24 Oct. 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
  • With first-party fraud and friendly disputes eroding already thin retail margins, managing chargebacks requires far more than basic operational recovery.
    — Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 30 Oct. 2026
  • The dispute comes as the initial surge of excitement surrounding Sanders’ arrival at Colorado has given way to struggles on the field, threatening to erode the program’s once-soaring band.
    — Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of erode
Verb
  • An Israeli strike in Gaza's southern city of Khan Younis killed five people, according to Nasser Hospital, where the bodies were taken.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 2 Nov. 2026
  • But the seventh entry, alongside the Resident Evil 2 Remake in 2019, breathed new life into the franchise, which has proved as tough to kill as any of Umbrella's bioweapons.
    — Daryl Baxter, Space.com, 1 Nov. 2026
Definition of kill
Verb
  • Voters who are feeling flush may be willing to tolerate a degree of self-dealing from politicians that becomes insupportable when grocery bills are high.
    — Ruth Marcus, New Yorker, 1 Nov. 2026
  • Most of the new towers remain concrete structures, but they’re now typically clad in glass, metal or masonry, and the frame — while expressed — is generally whipped up into a more interesting confection than Mies would have tolerated.
    — Edward Keegan, Chicago Tribune, 1 Nov. 2026
Definition of tolerate
Noun
  • In a separate project, researchers at the University of Hong Kong developed a highly corrosion-resistant stainless steel alloy, dubbed SS-H2, to help overcome this problem.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Some planes in desert facilities — selected because the arid climate can preserve the aircraft better and avoid corrosion — can sit for decades.
    — Leslie Josephs, CNBC, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of corrosion
Noun
  • Abbott bused migrants from the border to Chicago, often without a clear destination or adequate clothing for harsh Illinois winters.
    — Daniel C. Vock, Chicago Tribune, 1 Nov. 2026
  • Shop the season’s top clothing and accessory swaps to elevate your cozy travel staples and take on the cold in runway-ready styles, with prices starting at $15.
    — Julia Morlino, Travel + Leisure, 31 Oct. 2026
Definition of clothing
Verb
  • But that consensus began to fray several years ago and has recently threatened to unravel altogether as Democrats have shifted drastically and rapidly from unequivocal support for Israel, reflecting a sea change in Americans’ views.
    — New York Times, New York Times, 28 Oct. 2026
  • The party was a reminder of the close cross border ties that are frayed but so far not broken by the visa crackdown.
    — Angela Kocherga, NPR, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of fray
Verb
  • The victim continues to experience symptoms from the poisoning, including not being able to focus, tiring easily and a loss of sensation in his left hand, Gomelsky said.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 15 Oct. 2026
  • The alleged victim continues to experience symptoms from the poisoning, including not being able to focus, tiring easily and a loss of sensation in his left hand, Gomelsky said.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of tire
Verb
  • But up to this point, DIIV have endured—thrived, even—because of their refusal to capitulate to the industry winds that swirled around them.
    — Larry Fitzmaurice, Pitchfork, 30 Oct. 2026
  • The character introduced as youthful comic relief became an enduring piece of the series’ optimistic picture of the future.
    — Daniel Ross Goodman, The Washington Examiner, 30 Oct. 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 5 Nov. 2026.

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Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about wear

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