he wore down

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "he wore down" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where someone becomes exhausted or loses strength over time, often due to persistent effort or pressure. Example: "After weeks of negotiations, he wore down his opponent's resistance and finally reached an agreement."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

15 human-written examples

He wore down everyone.

The New York Times - Sports

But it was obvious that he wore down in the middle of the year.

The New York Times - Sports

He wore down opponents with his hustling-and-diving playing style, winning countless tournament championships since the 1970s.

The New York Times

Villa was the first player to send soccer shirts he wore down to the San Jos?ine when the rescuers established contact with the men underground.

The New York Times

Drosselmeyer gave him his only triumph in a Triple Crown race when he wore down his rivals in the Belmont Stakes in 2010.

The New York Times - Sports

Villa was the first player to send soccer shirts he wore down to the San José Mine when the rescuers established contact with the men underground.

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

45 human-written examples

Or hope that the race is extremely fast and that he wears down?

The New Yorker

He's big, he's strong, but he wears down quick.

The New York Times - Sports

He wears down your resources, repeatedly adjourning in court, until you give up or you settle.

The New York Times

Rather than make a frontal attack on physicians' autonomy, he wears down their resistance to change by showing them how their practice varies from the norm.

Harvard Business Review

Bruney pitched well for a while, but he was overweight and wore down in the second half of 2007.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "he wore down" when you want to emphasize a gradual weakening or defeat achieved through persistent effort or pressure. It's particularly effective in describing situations where endurance is key.

Common error

Avoid using "he wore down" when the situation involves a sudden or immediate defeat. The phrase implies a process of gradual weakening, not an instantaneous event.

Linguistic Context

The phrasal verb "he wore down" functions as a predicate, describing an action where someone gradually weakens or overcomes another through persistent effort. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. The provided examples showcase its use in describing sports contests, negotiations and general struggles.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "he wore down" is a grammatically sound phrasal verb that describes a gradual weakening or defeat through persistent effort, as validated by Ludwig AI. While not exceedingly common, it finds its primary usage in news and media contexts to depict scenarios involving endurance and attrition. When writing, use this phrase to emphasize a process of gradual weakening rather than an instantaneous defeat. Alternatives include "he exhausted" or "he ground down", offering similar but nuanced meanings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

he ground down

Implies a slow and relentless wearing away of resistance.

he exhausted

Focuses directly on the act of depleting someone's energy or resources.

he fatigued

Highlights the state of being tired or weary as a result of effort.

he chipped away at

Suggests a gradual reduction of something, like resistance or opposition.

he weakened

Emphasizes the reduction in strength or power.

he slowly eroded

Emphasizes a gradual and damaging process of weakening.

he undermined

Suggests a gradual and subtle weakening of someone's position or resolve.

he defeated

Highlights the act of overcoming someone through persistent effort.

he overcame

Focuses on successfully dealing with or gaining control over someone through sustained effort.

he prevailed against

Indicates ultimate success after a struggle.

FAQs

What does "he wore down" mean?

The phrase "he wore down" means that someone gradually weakened or exhausted another person or thing through persistent effort, pressure, or attrition. It implies a process where resistance is slowly diminished.

What can I say instead of "he wore down"?

You can use alternatives like "he exhausted", "he fatigued", or "he ground down" depending on the context.

How to use "he wore down" in a sentence?

Example: "After weeks of negotiations, he wore down his opponent's resistance and finally reached an agreement."

Is "he wore down" formal or informal?

The phrase "he wore down" is generally considered neutral in tone and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, though it's more common in news reporting and general narratives.