wear thin

Gradually become tiresome

To wear thin is to become depleted through gradual use or repetition.

Fabric wears thin from friction; patience wears thin from repeated annoyance.

My patience is wearing thin with these delays.

The phrase often signals that tolerance or goodwill is running out: That excuse is starting to wear thin.

deterioration

fray

Fight or unravel

erodeDiminish through persistent friction
threadbareWorn until transparent
tatterTorn cloth fragment

shabby · ragged · holes · patched · fraying · fabric · elbows · knees · soles · cuffs

patience

exasperation

Intense weary annoyance

impatienceIntolerance of delay
irritationMild anger or inflammation
annoyanceState of being bothered

short-tempered · testy · snappish · peevish · edgy · agitated · frustration · fed up · losing patience · at wit's end

excuse

unconvincing

Not able to persuade

flimsyWeak and easily damaged
weakLacking power or force
staleNo longer fresh

overused · transparent · hollow · implausible · tired · old · hackneyed · unbelievable · stretched · dubious

welcome

overstayed

Remained beyond appropriate time

outwornExhausted through overuse
staleNo longer fresh
tediousBoring through length

tiresome · wearisome · grating · old · unwelcome · intrusive · burdensome · imposing · nuisance · overfamiliar

Categories

clothing idiomsfit like a glove, dressed to the nines, dressed to kill, caught with pants down, at the drop of a hat
diminishingabate, decrease, diminish, dwindle, ebb
wear and tearfray, erode, crumble, chafe, scuff
agitateagitate, stir, rouse, disturb, rile up

Opposites

physical durability

wear thinhold up

Delay or armed robbery

stay fresh · endure · last · stay strong · deepen

credibility/effectiveness

wear thingain traction

hold water · ring true · stay fresh · carry weight · stand up

Family

thin, wear, worn, wearing, underwear, wears, thins, thinned, thinning

Familiarity: Top 50,000
Profile: Known to kids · Used worldwide · Timeless · Everyday, not technical · Rated G