as in to wear out
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Recent Examples of wear down
People and pets rub against the surface, leaving dirty handprints, scuff marks, and oils behind, and friction from frequent use can wear down the wood.
—
Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 15 Mar. 2026
His main role was being a physically imposing presence on the ice, using his 6-3, 209-pound frame to wear down opponents while his teammates took care of the rest.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 10 Mar. 2026
Thus, in a war of attrition, the drones could be used by Tehran to wear down air defenses, opening them up to more damaging attacks, analysts say.
—Dylan Butts, CNBC, 5 Mar. 2026
Your Dental Enamel May Erode Chewable or gummy vitamin C supplements are often acidic and can wear down dental enamel over time.
—Sarah Jividen, Verywell Health, 25 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for wear down
Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 15 Mar. 2026
His main role was being a physically imposing presence on the ice, using his 6-3, 209-pound frame to wear down opponents while his teammates took care of the rest.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 10 Mar. 2026
Thus, in a war of attrition, the drones could be used by Tehran to wear down air defenses, opening them up to more damaging attacks, analysts say.
—Dylan Butts, CNBC, 5 Mar. 2026
Your Dental Enamel May Erode Chewable or gummy vitamin C supplements are often acidic and can wear down dental enamel over time.
—Sarah Jividen, Verywell Health, 25 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for wear down
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wear down
Verb
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Its burgundy spine wore out many years ago, so layer on layer of tape tries desperately to cradle over 60 pages of newspaper cuttings documenting every word ever published about her son, Jamie Mitchell.—
Jordan Campbell,
New York Times,
8 Apr. 2026
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In contrast, the Fraternal Order of Eagles advocated for pensions for industrial wage laborers—for people who had worked in jobs that wore out their bodies and left them physically unable to work.—
Trevor Jackson,
The New York Review of Books,
4 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Murillo said Venezuela once had established mining institutions, including state company Minervén, but those structures have largely broken down.—
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
9 Apr. 2026
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When a transit agency breaks down, others can step up in its place; like a house of cards that lean on each other for support.—
Chase Hunter,
Mercury News,
8 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Wear down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wear%20down. Accessed 13 Apr. 2026.
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