grind down

phrasal verb

ground down; grinding down; grinds down

: to make (something hard) smaller and smoother by gradually rubbing off tiny bits

The old dog's teeth had been ground down by use.

: to weaken or destroy (someone or something) gradually

Poverty ground her spirit down.

These people have been ground down by years of oppression.

Examples of grind 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.

Outside of Russian President Vladimir Putin, who remains inflexible as his forces continue to grind down Ukraine's defenses in the Donbas, there is a general recognition in Western capitals that a diplomatic agreement is more palpable at this stage than indefinite warfare. —

Benedict Cosgrove, Newsweek, 19 Dec. 2024 His teeth were ground down to stubs and constantly breaking. —

Maria Sokolina, Forbes, 12 Dec. 2024 Mars is grinding down to a halt in your sixth house of work and projects, and Mercury spends the first half of the month completing its retrograde through your tenth house of career and public roles. —

Steph Koyfman, Condé Nast Traveler, 26 Nov. 2024 The Bobcats ground down then-No. 10 Masuk last Friday, 28-14, using their run game to play keep away. —

Ned Griffen, Hartford Courant, 18 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for grind down