wears off
Loses its effect
When something wears off, it gradually fades or diminishes until it's gone.
The phrase applies to effects that are temporary by nature: The anesthesia is wearing off, The novelty wore off after a few weeks.
Paint or finish that wears off has been rubbed away through friction or use.
Lasting only briefly
- fleetingPassing very quickly
- transientTemporary, soon departing
- momentaryLasting very briefly
- ephemeralLasting very briefly
impermanent · passing · brief · temporary · transitory · evanescent · finite · time-limited
Grows gradually weaker
- dissipatesGradually breaks up, vanishes
- vanishesCeases to be visible
- evaporatesChanges from liquid to gas
- disappearsCeases to exist visibly
melts away · peters out · disperses · lifts · clears · passes · wears away · runs out
short-lived
Lasting only briefly
ephemeral · impermanent · passing · brief · temporary · transitory · evanescent · finite · time-limited · provisional
fades
Grows gradually weaker
- dissipatesGradually breaks up, vanishes
- vanishesCeases to be visible
- evaporatesChanges from liquid to gas
disappears · melts away · peters out · disperses · lifts · clears · passes · wears away · runs out · expires
lessens
Makes smaller in degree
ebbs · recedes · tapers · weakens · attenuates · eases · slackens · abates · relents · mitigates