wear down

verb

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

2. to overcome or be overcome gradually by persistent effort

Idioms and Phrases

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

Iowa is all about controlling the ball, grinding the clock and wearing down opposing defenses.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The cognitive labor of constant rebuttal — the fatigue of knowing and re-knowing the same facts — slowly wears down public reasoning.

Read more on Salon

Kyiv says the strikes are primarily aimed at wearing down its civilian population.

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It is part of what Kyiv and its backers say is a deliberate and cynical strategy to wear down Ukraine's civilian population -- a charge Russia denies.

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President Vladimir Putin remains convinced that Russia will eventually wear down its smaller neighbor, causing a collapse of the Ukrainian economy and society.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal