as in wear
the result of long and hard use
my favorite jeans finally succumbed to wear and tear and had to be replaced
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 and tear
My trusty knapsack has come with me on European adventures and weekend trips, but sadly, it’s begun to show signs of wear and tear after years of regular use.
—
Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 28 Dec. 2025
Research published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition in May 2025 found that supplementing with daily vitamin D3 can reduce biological wear and tear equivalent to nearly three years of aging.
—Angelica Stabile, FOXNews.com, 26 Dec. 2025
First, at 35 years old, Green’s body is starting to show more wear and tear.
—Nick Friedell, New York Times, 24 Dec. 2025
Other common causes of elevator outages include power fluctuations, heat and humidity, normal wear and tear and passenger behavior such as overloading, according to Campbell.
—Alex Driggars, Austin American Statesman, 23 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for wear and tear
Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 28 Dec. 2025
Research published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition in May 2025 found that supplementing with daily vitamin D3 can reduce biological wear and tear equivalent to nearly three years of aging.
—Angelica Stabile, FOXNews.com, 26 Dec. 2025
First, at 35 years old, Green’s body is starting to show more wear and tear.
—Nick Friedell, New York Times, 24 Dec. 2025
Other common causes of elevator outages include power fluctuations, heat and humidity, normal wear and tear and passenger behavior such as overloading, according to Campbell.
—Alex Driggars, Austin American Statesman, 23 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for wear and tear
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wear and tear
wear
Noun
-
This pair from Amazon is lightweight enough for all-day wear, features an elastic drawcord for a personalized fit, and even includes two zip pockets to securely store important travel documents.—
Julia Morlino,
Travel + Leisure,
9 Jan. 2026
-
Whether we’re headed to the gym, lounging at home, or planning your next trips, Lululemon is our go-to destination for a workout wardrobe that doubles as casual and travel wear.—
Caley Sturgill,
Southern Living,
9 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Wear and tear.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wear%20and%20tear. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share