Wear down (phrasal verb): to gradually make someone or something weaker, less effective, or less resistant through persistent pressure, repeated effort, or continuous use; to erode or exhaust someone’s resistance, energy, or physical substance over time.

“Wear down” describes a process of gradual weakening or erosion that happens through sustained pressure or repeated action over time. The key idea is that change doesn’t happen suddenly—it occurs through persistent, continuous effort that slowly breaks down resistance, strength, or physical material. Think of how water wears down rock, how constant nagging wears down someone’s willpower, or how repeated use wears down the soles of your shoes.

The phrase has both physical and psychological meanings. Physically, things wear down through friction, use, or erosion—car brakes wear down, pencil erasers wear down, mountain paths wear down from foot traffic. This meaning describes actual material degradation or reduction in substance.

Psychologically or emotionally, “wearing someone down” means exhausting their resistance, patience, or energy through persistent pressure or repeated requests. Children wear parents down by asking for things repeatedly until they give in. Difficult work wears people down until they’re exhausted. Prolonged stress wears down someone’s mental health. Persistent salespeople wear down customer resistance until they buy. This meaning emphasizes gradual erosion of willpower or strength rather than sudden defeat.

The phrase can be neutral, negative, or occasionally strategic. It’s negative when describing unwanted exhaustion or pressure. It’s neutral when describing natural physical erosion. It’s strategic when describing deliberate tactics to overcome resistance through persistence.

Examples from the street:

• “The constant arguing wore down their relationship until they had nothing left” → The persistent conflict gradually destroyed their emotional connection through repeated damage over time
• “He wore me down with constant requests until I finally said yes” → His repeated asking gradually exhausted my resistance through persistent pressure until I surrendered
• “Years of walking wore down the stone steps at the ancient temple” → Decades of foot traffic gradually eroded the material substance of the stairs through continuous friction

2. Most Common Patterns

• wear someone down → exhaust someone’s resistance or energy through persistence
• wear something down → physically erode or reduce something through use
• get worn down by + something → become exhausted or weakened by persistent pressure (passive)
• wear down resistance/opposition → gradually overcome objections through persistence
• wear down over time → gradually deteriorate through extended period
• slowly wear down → emphasizing the gradual nature of erosion
• eventually wear someone down → ultimately exhaust resistance after sustained effort

3. Idioms

Note: There are no common idioms directly containing “wear down” — these are related expressions:

• wear someone out → exhaust someone completely through physical or mental effort (similar but emphasizes complete exhaustion)Example: “Taking care of three toddlers all day wears me out completely.”
• chip away at something → gradually reduce or weaken something through persistent small efforts (similar gradual erosion concept)Example: “His constant criticism chipped away at her self-confidence over the years.”

4. Example Sentences

1. The dentist explained that grinding teeth at night wears down enamel and causes sensitivity→ The medical professional described how nocturnal jaw clenching gradually erodes tooth surface material causing pain through repeated friction.
2. Her persistent questions about his whereabouts eventually wore him down and he confessed→ Her continuous inquiries about his location gradually exhausted his resistance through repeated pressure until he admitted truth.
3. Years of carrying heavy loads wore down the cartilage in his knees→ Extended period of transporting substantial weight gradually damaged the protective joint tissue through continuous stress.
4. The constant noise from construction wore down the residents’ patience and complaints increased→ The persistent sound from building work gradually eroded neighbors’ tolerance through ongoing disturbance, causing more protests.
5. Negotiations lasted three days as each side tried to wear down the other’s resolve→ Discussions continued across extended period with both parties attempting to exhaust opponents’ determination through sustained pressure.
6. The student’s repeated requests for an extension finally wore the teacher down→ The learner’s continuous appeals for additional time eventually exhausted the instructor’s resistance through persistent asking.
7. Sandstorms over centuries have worn down the ancient pyramids’ outer surfaces→ Wind-driven particles across hundreds of years gradually eroded the historical structures’ exterior layers through constant abrasion.
8. Working long hours without breaks will eventually wear you down mentally and physically→ Extended labor periods lacking rest will ultimately exhaust your psychological and bodily resources through continuous strain.
9. The defense’s strategy was to wear down the prosecution with endless procedural objections→ The protecting side’s tactical approach involved exhausting accusers through persistent technical challenges to deplete their energy.
10. Don’t let life’s small frustrations wear you down—save your energy for real challenges→ Avoid allowing minor daily annoyances to gradually exhaust your resilience; preserve strength for significant difficulties.

5. Personal Examples

1. Difficult grammar concepts can wear students down if they encounter them too frequently without mastery→ Challenging linguistic rules may gradually exhaust learners’ motivation when facing them repeatedly before achieving understanding.
2. I’ve learned not to let classroom management issues wear me down—staying calm preserves energy→ I’ve discovered that avoiding emotional depletion from behavioral problems through composure maintains teaching effectiveness.

6. Register: Neutral / Universal

✔ Native usage tips

• “Wear down” emphasizes gradual process—not sudden collapse but slow erosion over time
• Can describe both physical erosion (brakes, paths, materials) and psychological exhaustion (resistance, patience, energy)
• “Wear someone down” often implies persistent pressure or repeated requests until they surrender
• “Wear out” is similar but suggests complete exhaustion; “wear down” emphasizes the gradual weakening process

✔ Similar expressions / words

• Wear out → similar but emphasizes complete exhaustion or destruction rather than gradual weakening
• Erode → more formal term for gradual wearing down, especially of materials or abstract qualities
• Exhaust → focuses on complete depletion of energy; “wear down” emphasizes the gradual process of getting there