WORE DOWN Synonyms: 43 Similar and Opposite Words

wore down

verb

past tense of wear down

as in ground (down)

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for wore down

Verb

This skirt reminds me of the one that Jenner wore out in New York recently.

— Kaitlin Clapinski, InStyle, 13 June 2026
Something switched in that one 10 years ago — the Warriors wore out and James (and Kyrie Irving) kicked it into hyperdrive.

— Joe Vardon, New York Times, 12 June 2026

Definition of wore out

Verb

Although Bogan and Moore initially discussed sharing the cost of a vet bill, those talks broke down over the amount, text messages show.

— Amber Gaudet Updated August 21, Charlotte Observer, 21 Aug. 2026
The Catalans beat Madrid to the Spain captain and Best Player at the World Cup, after talks between his former club Manchester City and Los Blancos broke down.

— Tom Sanderson, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of broke down

Verb

Riggs said the Teamsters’ safety argument is weakened by the inconsistent safety record of human truck drivers, who have fallen asleep at the wheel or driven while distracted or otherwise impaired.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 29 Aug. 2026
The Sacramento Police Department will hold a DUI checkpoint Friday night to identify drivers suspected of being impaired by alcohol or drugs.

— Nicole Buss, Sacbee.com, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of impaired

Verb

But then disaster struck in 2022, when Flintoff was badly injured in a crash at the Dunsfold Park Aerodrome in Surrey, England.

— Jake Kanter, Deadline, 27 Aug. 2026
Carter faces attempted murder charges in which the two deputies and the PG&E worker are listed as victims injured in the shooting, according to the criminal complaint filed by the El Dorado County District Attorney’s Office.

— Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of injured

Verb

At a key power plant that was severely damaged by the floods, workers started inspecting the facilities Sunday to survey the destruction.

— Victoria Milko, Los Angeles Times, 30 Aug. 2026
The Don Curry Nature Trail — named for the Troop 326 scoutmaster and Fort Worth attorney — replaced an older trail that had been damaged by erosion.

— Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of damaged

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.

Browse Nearby Words

wore (away)

wore down

wore on

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Wore down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wore%20down. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of wore down

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

dissonant

Popular in Grammar & Usage

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

A List of Most Commonly Confused Words

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

Popular

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Games & Quizzes