grind down

phrasal verb

ground down; grinding down; grinds down
1
: to make (something hard) smaller and smoother by gradually rubbing off tiny bits
The old dog's teeth had been ground down by use.
2
: to weaken or destroy (someone or something) gradually
Poverty ground her spirit down.
These people have been ground down by years of oppression.

Examples of grind down in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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The odds are that the authority in charge and strict rules will likely grind down your rebellion. Lance Eliot, Forbes, 30 Oct. 2024 Across the border in Syria, meanwhile, both rebels and extremist groups have ground down the defenses of President Bashar al-Assad. Lina Khatib, Foreign Affairs, 13 July 2016 There isn’t as much value in grinding down starters, either, with a string of talented relief arms usually beckoning in the bullpen. Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 4 Oct. 2024 Israel has spent a year and spent considerable money and political capital grinding down Gaza. Isaac Chotiner, The New Yorker, 12 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for grind down 

Dictionary Entries Near grind down

Cite this Entry

“Grind down.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/grind%20down. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.

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