wearing-down
wearing-down — idiom
1. the slow, steady process of draining a person's energy and spirit so that they s
the slow, steady process of draining a person's energy and spirit so that they struggle to handle their difficulties
The wearing-down of Hassan's enthusiasm was plain to see after months of rejected proposals.
collocation: wearing-down of [someone's quality]
Andrés watched the slow wearing-down of his mother's strength during the long hospital stay.
Endless interruptions at work caused a wearing-down of Sivan's ability to concentrate.
Putri described the wearing-down of her spirit after years in an unappreciated role.
Jack noticed a gradual wearing-down of team trust every time a promise was broken.
- exhaustion
focuses more on the physical end-state of being drained; wearing-down emphasises the slow, ongoing process
- burnout
a state of complete mental and physical collapse, typically from overwork; wearing-down is the gradual buildup that leads there
- attrition
used in military or business contexts for wearing down an opponent's strength; wearing-down is broader and more personal
- rejuvenation
the process of restoring energy and vitality
用法筆記
Almost always followed by 'of' and a noun phrase naming what is being drained: the wearing-down of [someone's spirit / confidence / health / morale].
wearing-down — verb
- wearing-downpresent simple I / you / we / they
- wearing-downs3rd person singular
- wearing-downing-ing form
- wearing-downedpast simple
1. to weaken a person's determination or resistance by applying steady, unrelenting
to weaken a person's determination or resistance by applying steady, unrelenting pressure until they finally give way
Reuben's cheerful persistence eventually wore down the grumpy librarian's resistance to new ideas.
wear down + [someone's resistance]
The prosecutor tried to wear down the witness by asking the same question seven times.
Pedro knew the long trek through the mountains would wear down even the fittest hikers.
Water seeping into the same crack can wear down solid rock over many centuries.
Emre's little girl wore him down with hugs and pleading until he agreed to get a puppy.
- grind down
carries a stronger sense of oppression or cruelty; wear down is more neutral and can be affectionate
- sap
focuses narrowly on draining energy or strength; wear down includes weakening resistance and determination as well
- erode
often applied to abstract things like confidence or trust through small, repeated actions; wear down works for both people and physical surfaces
- invigorate
to fill with energy and strength
- fortify
to strengthen against attack or pressure
文法句型
wear down + [someone/something]
wear + [someone/something] + down
用法筆記
Object is typically a person, their resistance, or a physical surface. Often used with 'gradually' or 'slowly' to emphasise the extended timeframe. In informal contexts, can describe affectionate persistence (a child pleading) as well as adversarial pressure.