WEARS DOWN Synonyms: 43 Similar and Opposite Words

wears down

verb

present tense third-person singular of wear down

as in wears out

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for wears down

Verb

But in the end, this mostly dialogue-less experiment, which leans heavily on its lively soundtrack, leaves us emotionally removed and eventually wears out its welcome.

— Randy Myers, Mercury News, 23 July 2026
Why cost per wear could reshape sustainable fashion Clothing is a consumable good that wears out, so it can reasonably be judged on a unit-price basis.

— Ryan Brennan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 26 June 2026

Definition of wears out

Verb

Wheeler breaks down her actionable, high-yield steps for parents with kids of all ages who want to lower their bills right now.

— Lauren Brown West-Rosenthal, Parents, 31 July 2026
Commentary and opinions In his latest column, Gustavo Arellano breaks down the banality of evil in the Border Patrol’s secret anti-immigrant slur.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 31 July 2026

Definition of breaks down

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

wears (away)

wears down

wears on

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Wears down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wears%20down. Accessed 3 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of wears down

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

mitigate

Popular in Grammar & Usage

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

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

'Sneaked' or 'Snuck': Which is correct?

Why does English have so many silent letters?

Popular in Wordplay

Dutch Treat and French Leave: Eight Place-Based Compounds

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

How long is a jiffy?

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

Popular

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Dutch Treat and French Leave: Eight Place-Based Compounds

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Games & Quizzes