wear down

verb

wore down; worn down; wearing down; wears down
Synonyms of wear downnext

transitive verb

: to weary and overcome by persistent resistance or pressure

Examples of wear down in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
But when the fourth quarter started, the Rainbow Warriors wore down the Cardinal with long, methodical drives and turned that into a brief lead. — Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 30 Aug. 2026 The two teams beat each other up and remained tied 7-7 until late in the third quarter, when the Royals started to wear down the Edgewater defense. — Buddy Collings, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 Aug. 2026 All these cleaners and solvents could remove or wear down the protective coating. — Blythe Copeland, Martha Stewart, 28 Aug. 2026 Despite months of negotiations, Tehran and Washington seem poised to keep fighting on and off in an effort to wear down the other’s materiel and willpower. — Dina Esfandiary, Foreign Affairs, 27 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for wear down

Word History

First Known Use

1774, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of wear down was in 1774

Rhymes for wear down

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Browse Nearby Words

wear away
wear down
wearer
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Wear down.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wear%20down. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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