grind down
phrasal verbPart ofgrind
grind down — phrasal verb
1. to gradually reduce someone's energy, hope, or determination through continuous
1.phrasal verb
Definition
to gradually reduce someone's energy, hope, or determination through continuous pressure, criticism, or difficult conditions.
Example
The constant criticism from her manager slowly ground her down until she quit.
Years of poverty and hardship had ground down the old man's spirit.