Wear and tear can happen to everything from our bodies to our clothes to our relationships. However, we don't always want to use the same phrase to describe the process of something gradually deteriorating. There are various synonyms to use instead of 'wore away', for example, corrode, erode, consume, diminish, break down, crumble, and fray. These words describe the gradual weakening or disintegration of something over time, making them useful for describing situations when wear and tear is a common occurrence. Using synonyms adds variety to our language, making our writing more engaging and interesting to readers.