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Synonyms

wear down

British  

verb

  1. to consume or be consumed by long or constant wearing, rubbing, etc

  2. to overcome or be overcome gradually by persistent effort

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
wear down Idioms  

  1. Diminish, weaken, or tire by relentless pressure, as in The heels of these shoes are quite worn down, or Her constant nagging about getting a new car wore down his resistance. [First half of 1800s]

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

He won’t wear down popular and respected Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch right away—he’ll wait.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 6, 2025

As mitochondria naturally wear down over time, protecting them could help older adults to fight infections and stay healthier.

From Science Daily • Oct. 10, 2025

“Can the Yankees throw enough strikes as a staff? And will the Dodgers lineup wear down the Yankees’ pitching as a whole?

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 24, 2024

The large number of hybrid vehicles in Los Angeles are especially tempting to thieves because such they do not wear down converters as quickly as cars that only run on gasoline.

From BBC • Aug. 15, 2024

I still made sure to switch back and forth between my two pairs of nonsneaker shoes every day so I wouldn't wear down the soles too quickly.

From "Tradition" by Brendan Kiely

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.