wear down

verb

Definition of wear downnext
as in to wear out

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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 down Russia has used attacks on energy facilities in order to deny Ukrainian civilians power, heat and running water during the war, hoping to wear down public support for Ukraine's response to Moscow's full-scale invasion. — Arkansas Online, 13 Oct. 2026 Cleveland Clinic warns that hard bristles and aggressive scrubbing can wear down enamel and damage gum tissue. — Ryan Brennan, Charlotte Observer, 7 Oct. 2026 Cleveland Clinic warns that hard bristles and heavy pressure can wear down enamel and damage gum tissue. — Ryan Brennan, Kansas City Star, 7 Oct. 2026 That standard reaction produces high-energy neutrons, which wear down reactor walls over time. — Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 2 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for wear down
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wear down
  1. wear out
  2. break down
Verb
  • According to Jewish tradition, worn out sacred texts can’t be casually discarded; instead, they are stored in a geniza, a repository usually located within a synagogue or buried at a Jewish cemetery.
    — Angie Leventis Lourgos, Chicago Tribune, 1 Nov. 2026
  • Electric trucks weigh thousands of pounds more than traditional trucks, so their tires wear out faster and need replacing more often.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 29 Oct. 2026
Definition of wear out
Verb
  • Those compounds break down over time, so the aroma becomes much gentler.
    — Ryan Brennan, Kansas City Star, 3 Nov. 2026
  • Palacios, breaking down in tears, admitted Capador was the one who did the hiring.
    — Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 3 Nov. 2026
Definition of break down

Browse Nearby Words

wear (away)
wear down
wearied
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Cite this Entry

“Wear down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wear%20down. Accessed 8 Nov. 2026.

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