Sport

WEAR

Think of a word that means to gradually diminish or erode, like how constant use can affect fabric over time.

The word "sport" here isn’t about athletics—it’s a verb meaning to show off or display something proudly, like "sporting a new outfit." The answer "WEAR" fits because when you sport clothing, you’re wearing it. It’s a playful twist where the clue uses a less common meaning of "sport" to lead to a simple, everyday word.