1
as in killing
to use up all the physical energy of
the job of running their own business wears them sometimes
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in eroding
to damage or diminish by continued friction
all that walking every day wore the soles of my shoes very quickly
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in standing
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
1
as in crushing
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
2
as in draining
Related Words
Dissimilar 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 wearing
Daneet Steffens, BostonGlobe.com, 17 Aug. 2023
Verb
The force of Burton’s manic personality was very wearing.
—Daneet Steffens, BostonGlobe.com, 17 Aug. 2023
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wearing
Verb
-
The traditional barriers surrounding proprietary AI are eroding, ushering in a new era of innovation that will redefine the global AI race.—
Vandana Rana,
Forbes,
5 Mar. 2025
-
Gerrymandering reduces electoral competition, entrenches incumbents, and marginalizes whole communities, ultimately eroding public trust in democracy.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
The hems are finished with double stitching to prevent the edges from fraying or unraveling.—
Maggie Horton,
People.com,
8 Apr. 2025
-
Perspective, of course, is sometimes no match for the cold math of an underwhelming win streak or a locker room with fraying edges.—
Kristian Winfield,
New York Daily News,
8 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Thank you for tolerating a strange British idiot.—
Gord Magill,
Newsweek,
21 Dec. 2024
-
Instead of being about a bunch of observers helplessly tolerating their peculiar friend, the sketch became an absurd illustration of the way groupthink manifests.—
Shirley Li,
The Atlantic,
15 Dec. 2024
Verb
-
After an incredible season in 2023, the lefty struggled mightily last season before accepting his player option worth north of $20 million for the 2025 campaign.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
Newsweek,
21 Mar. 2025
-
Countries accepting the phones included China and the United Arab Emirates, according to federal court filings in the Eastern District of Texas.—
Michael Loria,
USA TODAY,
21 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
The restaurant offers a menu that strikes the perfect balance of enough variety without being overwhelming.—
Susmita Baral,
Travel + Leisure,
14 July 2025
-
The weather service also issued a flood advisory for Edwards and Real counties until 2:30 p.m., citing minor flooding in low-lying areas with poor drainage and water overwhelming roadways.—
Alexis Simmerman,
Austin American Statesman,
14 July 2025
Adjective
-
And to cope with the agonizing pain of childbirth, Victoria enthusiastically embraced chloroform.—
Sam Kelly,
Time,
8 July 2025
-
The New York Yankees, who won the 2024 American League pennant before losing a five-game Fall Classic to the Los Angeles Dodgers, fell out of first place on Independence Day weekend as an agonizing slump seemed to grip the entire team.—
Dan Schlossberg,
Forbes.com,
7 July 2025
Adjective
-
Bernie had facial fractures, cuts and bruises around his face, and very painful muscle injuries.—
Lucy Notarantonio,
MSNBC Newsweek,
9 July 2025
-
Deciding where to manufacture your product is one of the most painful questions today.—
Alex Gudilko,
Forbes.com,
9 July 2025
Adjective
-
The feat was deemed so inspiring that an adaptation of The Salt Path, starring Gillian Anderson and Jason Isaacs, released in U.K. theaters earlier this year and depicted Moth’s diagnosis of a debilitating and terminal neurological illness that Winn said was improved by the expedition.—
Lily Ford,
HollywoodReporter,
7 July 2025
-
Despite its debilitating effects, UVC radiation is no big deal for Clavascidium lacinulatum, a desert lichen found in the Mojave Desert.—
Jack Knudson,
Discover Magazine,
25 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Wearing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wearing. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share