wear 1 of 2

verb

ˈwer How to pronounce wear (audio)
Definition of wearnext
1
as in to erode
to damage or diminish by continued friction all that walking every day wore the soles of my shoes very quickly

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in to kill
to use up all the physical energy of the job of running their own business wears them sometimes

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to tolerate
British to put up with (something painful or difficult) her marriage is so bad—I don't know how she wears it

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

wear

2 of 2

noun

1
as in corrosion
the result of long and hard use after several years, the carpet was finally showing wear

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in clothes
covering for the human body the latest in fashionable wear

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of wear
Verb
The superfans who stood closest to the stage wore ponchos as protection in case a competitor threw up. — Kyla Guilfoil, NBC news, 5 July 2026 Nimin High-Waisted Trousers This trouser option comes in short lengths and can be worn casually with comfy sneakers for brunch, or dressed up with a blouse for the office. — Rylee Johnston, PEOPLE, 4 July 2026
Noun
Too much fabric softener can reduce the absorption or moisture-wicking factors of bath towels and athletic wear. — Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 2 July 2026 The maison snatched up Orlebar Brown, a British luxury resort-wear brand known for its swim trunks, back in 2018. — Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 2 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for wear
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wear
  1. erode
  2. kill
  3. tolerate
  4. corrosion
  5. clothing
  6. fray
  7. tire
  8. endure
Verb
  • But Koppl traced a distinctly American lineage through a chain of precedents dating back more than 50 years, each one further eroding the market discipline that profit-and-loss accountability is supposed to provide.
    — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 3 July 2026
  • Moscow says the strike was retaliation for Ukraine’s 40-day campaign on Russian oil refineries and supply lines, which has fueled shortages, hit Crimea and eroded battlefield momentum.
    — Hanna Arhirova, Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2026
Definition of erode
Verb
  • Massive explosions lit up the night sky as ballistic missiles and drones hammered parts of the city, killing at least 14 people in the city and three others in the surrounding region, with dozens more wounded, city officials said.
    — Helen Regan, CNN Money, 6 July 2026
  • Alicent and Helaena will be held prisoner until Aemond is found and killed.
    — Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 6 July 2026
Definition of kill
Verb
  • Beyond that, a truce means whatever the negotiators will tolerate as long as none backs out of talks.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 1 July 2026
  • Today’s challenge is building genuine relationships, creating strong global teams, and leveraging diversity rather than merely tolerating it.
    — Andy Molinsky, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026
Definition of tolerate
Noun
  • Not just cracks in physical structures, researchers have been able to study the effects of harsh temperatures, corrosion, and radiation inside nuclear reactors using radiography, ultrasonics, and electromagnetic labs.
    — Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 2 July 2026
  • The body is made from Grade 5 Titanium alloy, which is commonly chosen for EDC tools for its corrosion resistance, light weight, and durability.
    — Maryna Holovnova, New Atlas, 2 July 2026
Definition of corrosion
Noun
  • Surveillance cameras captured a person dressed in dark clothing on a nearby roof overlooking the courtyard less than ten minutes before the killing, prosecutors said in charging documents.
    — Nicki Brown, CNN Money, 6 July 2026
  • The same goes for discovering petite-friendly clothing brands with styles that not only fit, but also flatter shorter frames.
    — Destinee Scott, Travel + Leisure, 6 July 2026
Definition of clothing
Verb
  • Now, Democrat Xavier Becerra and Republican Steve Hilton present a stark choice to voters in the race to be the next governor at a moment when public support for the state’s generous safety net is starting to fray.
    — Christine Mai-Duc, Los Angeles Times, 26 June 2026
  • The same fear of a fraying dollar system is driving Russia and others toward bitcoin and pushing Wall Street to treat which reserve asset wins as a live question.
    — Boaz Sobrado, Forbes.com, 23 June 2026
Definition of fray
Verb
  • In the race itself, Evenepoel and fellow escapee Mathieu van der Poel were criticised for working alongside eventual winner Pogačar, rather than attempting to force the Slovenian to do all the work and tire himself out.
    — Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 2 July 2026
  • On Independence Day, take your pet for a long walk or enjoy a play session to tire them out before nightfall and the accompanying noise.
    — Jen Reeder, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026
Definition of tire
Verb
  • Led by husband-and-wife team Austin and Olivia Kelleher, each headcover is made in the Hudson Valley and embodies sustainability, artistry, and the enduring spirit of the game.
    — RS Editors, Rolling Stone, 2 July 2026
  • The teaser opens with a young Jean Valjean enduring the brutal years of his imprisonment before fast-forwarding to his new life and the inevitable pursuit by Inspector Javert, played by Tahar Rahim.
    — Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 2 July 2026
Definition of endure

Phrases Containing wear

Browse Nearby Words

weapons
wear
wearables
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Wear.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wear. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on wear

Nglish: Translation of wear for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about wear

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of gambol

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
hangman letters and game
Hangman Lightning Round Figure out which word fits in the blanks.
See All