wear and tear
noun
: the loss, injury, or stress to which something is subjected by or in the course of use
especially
: normal depreciation
Examples of wear and tear in a Sentence
my favorite jeans finally succumbed to wear and tear and had to be replaced
Recent Examples on the Web
Joe Biden doesn’t seem to be suffering from an acute ailment, but rather from the cumulative wear and tear brought on by devoting his life to public service.
—
Charles E. Kraus, New York Daily News, 1 July 2024
Based on the wear and tear on its teeth, the scientists determined the animal to be an adult male, though its exact age is unclear.
—Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald, 28 June 2024
Dozens of the skeletons shared specific, significant patterns of wear and tear.
—Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 28 June 2024
Though both services tout state-of-the-art cleaning programs, our staff received items with excess wear and tear and, in a few cases, odor.
—Madison Yauger, Peoplemag, 26 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for wear and tear 
Charles E. Kraus, New York Daily News, 1 July 2024
Based on the wear and tear on its teeth, the scientists determined the animal to be an adult male, though its exact age is unclear.
—Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald, 28 June 2024
Dozens of the skeletons shared specific, significant patterns of wear and tear.
—Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 28 June 2024
Though both services tout state-of-the-art cleaning programs, our staff received items with excess wear and tear and, in a few cases, odor.
—Madison Yauger, Peoplemag, 26 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for wear and tear
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'wear and tear.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near wear and tear
Cite this Entry
“Wear and tear.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wear%20and%20tear. Accessed 4 Jul. 2024.
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