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 Democratic Party, less than four months from a pivotal midterm election, is navigating a new kind of culture war over exactly what kind of behavior — from candidates and staff — the party should tolerate.
    — Nicholas Wu, semafor.com, 15 July 2026
  • Engineers also incorporated seismic protection features that allow the bridge to better tolerate ground movement, an essential requirement in one of the world’s most seismically active regions.
    — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 14 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
  • The mix-up may have contributed to souring the communication between the legal teams of the companies, whose relationship appears to be increasingly frayed.
    — NBC news, NBC news, 15 July 2026
  • The terms of the memorandum have been hazily defined, and the agreement has quickly frayed.
    — Brian Boucher, ARTnews.com, 14 July 2026
Definition of fray
Verb
  • 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
  • More than 90% agreed or strongly agreed that scent work is enjoyable for dogs, tires them out and builds confidence in shy dogs.
    — Ryan Brennan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 July 2026
Definition of tire
Verb
  • But for many Georgians who volunteered, worked, performed or attended the Games, the memories that have endured are far more personal.
    — Andrea Clement, AJC.com, 17 July 2026
  • Iran’s hardline regime achieves a victory of sorts simply by enduring and surviving.
    — Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 17 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 21 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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