wear and tear
noun
: the loss, injury, or stress to which something is subjected by or in the course of use
especially
: normal depreciation
Examples of wear and tear in a Sentence
my favorite jeans finally succumbed to wear and tear and had to be replaced
Recent Examples on the Web
Plastic is easy to clean and lightweight, but tends to exhibit wear and tear faster than their metal counterparts.
—
Andrea Wurzburger, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 Apr. 2024
Chronic pain can be caused by all sorts of underlying factors, including internal and external injury, infection, inflammation, and the degeneration of bones and muscles caused by daily wear and tear.
—Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 3 Apr. 2024
In the 316 years since the San José sunk, the ship has remained untouched aside from natural ocean wear and tear.
—Leah Sarnoff, ABC News, 20 Mar. 2024
In some cases the vintage looks were shot in one setting, but when characters needed to move outside, or had scenes that could cause a bit more wear and tear, faithful reproductions were made.
—Lilah Ramzi, Vogue, 20 Mar. 2024
At this point, scuff marks and signs of wear and tear are exposed.
—Blake Bakkila, Sunset Magazine, 14 Mar. 2024
The quilt is made with durable stitching that withstands years of wear and tear, a reversible pattern that can be displayed on either side, and is machine washable for easy cleaning.
—Gabriella Maestri, Southern Living, 12 Mar. 2024
More than two years into their wartime alliance, the bond between the United States and Ukraine is showing signs of wear and tear, giving way to mutual frustration and a feeling that the relationship might be stuck in a bit of a rut.
—Thomas Gibbons-Neff, New York Times, 7 Mar. 2024
The second straight weak retail sales report, which included a downward revision of January’s sales data, has sparked concerns that consumers are finally showing signs of wear and tear after powering through price increases and rising borrowing costs for roughly two years.
—Will Daniel, Fortune, 14 Mar. 2024
Andrea Wurzburger, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 Apr. 2024
Chronic pain can be caused by all sorts of underlying factors, including internal and external injury, infection, inflammation, and the degeneration of bones and muscles caused by daily wear and tear.
—Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 3 Apr. 2024
In the 316 years since the San José sunk, the ship has remained untouched aside from natural ocean wear and tear.
—Leah Sarnoff, ABC News, 20 Mar. 2024
In some cases the vintage looks were shot in one setting, but when characters needed to move outside, or had scenes that could cause a bit more wear and tear, faithful reproductions were made.
—Lilah Ramzi, Vogue, 20 Mar. 2024
At this point, scuff marks and signs of wear and tear are exposed.
—Blake Bakkila, Sunset Magazine, 14 Mar. 2024
The quilt is made with durable stitching that withstands years of wear and tear, a reversible pattern that can be displayed on either side, and is machine washable for easy cleaning.
—Gabriella Maestri, Southern Living, 12 Mar. 2024
More than two years into their wartime alliance, the bond between the United States and Ukraine is showing signs of wear and tear, giving way to mutual frustration and a feeling that the relationship might be stuck in a bit of a rut.
—Thomas Gibbons-Neff, New York Times, 7 Mar. 2024
The second straight weak retail sales report, which included a downward revision of January’s sales data, has sparked concerns that consumers are finally showing signs of wear and tear after powering through price increases and rising borrowing costs for roughly two years.
—Will Daniel, Fortune, 14 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'wear and tear.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near wear and tear
Cite this Entry
“Wear and tear.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wear%20and%20tear. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.
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