worn down
Gradually made weaker
Worn down describes something gradually reduced or weakened through persistent pressure, friction, or effort.
Physically, surfaces become worn down through use: The stone steps were worn down by centuries of foot traffic.
More often figurative—resistance, patience, or resolve erodes under sustained stress: She finally agreed, worn down by his constant asking.
The phrase suggests slow attrition rather than sudden defeat.
- agedAdvanced in years
- worse for wearDamaged by experience
- erosionGradual wearing away
- depletedSeverely reduced or emptied
- attritionGradual reduction through loss
demoralization · at wit's end · hopelessness · rusty · burnout · running on empty · used · threadbare · deterioration · frazzled · crumbling · well-loved · beaten path · fatigue · drained · bone tired · weathering · spent
- burnoutburned out, burnt out, burn out, burning out, burnout
- demolishedbeaten, defeated, crushed, destroyed, demolished
- despairdespair, hopelessness, desolation, despondency, dejection
- exhaustedtired, weary, exhausted, drained, fatigued
- burdenedburdened, laden, loaded, overburdened, overloaded
- gotten toreached, arrived, bothered, upset, annoyed