wear out
Tire to exhaustion
To wear out is to use something until it's damaged or unusable: I wore out three pairs of running shoes last year.
Extended to people, it means to exhaust: The kids wore me out.
Things wear out through friction, repetition, or time.
A welcome can wear out when someone overstays: Don't wear out your welcome.
Channel for wastewater
- depleteGreatly reduce supply
- tireLose strength or energy
- fatigueWeariness from prolonged exertion
- sapPlant circulatory fluid
enervate · overwork · tax · strain · debilitate · enfeeble · run down · overtire
Worn until transparent
worn thin · scuffed · torn · ripped · unravel · distressed · weathered · holey
Gradual organic breakdown
- erodeDiminish through persistent friction
- corrodeDestroy through chemical action
- crumbleFragment gradually
- disintegrateBreak into fragments
degrade · rot · rust · wither · perish · break down · fall apart · give way
drain
Channel for wastewater
sap · enervate · overwork · tax · strain · debilitate · enfeeble · run down · overtire · overexert
threadbare
Worn until transparent
frayed · worn thin · scuffed · torn · ripped · unravel · distressed · weathered · holey · patched
decay
Gradual organic breakdown
- erodeDiminish through persistent friction
- corrodeDestroy through chemical action
- crumbleFragment gradually
disintegrate · degrade · rot · rust · wither · perish · break down · fall apart · give way · degenerate
outlive
Persist beyond another's death
exceed · surpass · go through · use up · consume