wear down

verb

wore down; worn down; wearing down; wears down

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.
The engravings from the Amud Cave artifacts, meanwhile, were found to have no clear orientation or patterning, consistent with functional use as tools for wearing down, smoothing or polishing. Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 7 Feb. 2025 They’ve been pushed around, beaten up and worn down by opponents who have been far tougher in beating the Bruins (11-6 overall, 2-4 Big Ten) by an average of 13 points during their losing streak. Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 17 Jan. 2025 One of the two remaining teeth showed no wear at all, while the other was cracked and worn down from overuse. Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 13 Jan. 2025 The Sharks wear down opponents mentally and physically. Chris Branch, The Athletic, 9 Jan. 2025 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

Dictionary Entries Near wear down

Cite this Entry

“Wear down.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wear%20down. Accessed 11 Feb. 2025.

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Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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