ATTRITION: Synonyms and Related Words. What is Another Word for ATTRITION?

Need another word that means the same as “attrition”? Find 23 synonyms and 30 related words for “attrition” in this overview.

The synonyms of “Attrition” are: abrasion, corrasion, detrition, contriteness, contrition, grinding, wearing down, wearing away, weakening, debilitation, sapping, attenuation, friction, rubbing, chafing, corroding, corrosion, erosion, eating away, scraping, wearing, excoriation, deterioration

Attrition as a Noun

Definitions of "Attrition" as a noun

According to the Oxford Dictionary of English, “attrition” as a noun can have the following definitions:

• Erosion by friction.
• The wearing down of rock particles by friction due to water or wind or ice.
• Wearing away by friction; abrasion.
• A wearing down to weaken or destroy.
• The gradual reduction of a workforce by employees leaving and not being replaced rather than by redundancy.
• Sorrow for sin arising from fear of damnation.
• (in scholastic theology) sorrow for sin, falling short of contrition.
• The act of rubbing together; wearing something down by friction.
• The process of reducing something's strength or effectiveness through sustained attack or pressure.

Synonyms of "Attrition" as a noun (23 Words)

abrasion	Erosion by friction. The metal is resistant to abrasion.
attenuation	The property of something that has been weakened or reduced in thickness or density. Human security required the attenuation of a wide range of threats to people.
chafing	Anger produced by some annoying irritation.
contriteness	The faculty of contriving; inventive skill.
contrition	(in the Roman Catholic Church) the repentance of past sins during or after confession. Prayers of contrition.
corrasion	Erosion by friction.
corroding	Erosion by chemical action.
corrosion	Damage caused to metal stone or other materials by corrosion. Engineers found the corrosion when checking the bridge.
debilitation	Serious weakening and loss of energy.
deterioration	A symptom of reduced quality or strength. A deterioration in the condition of the patient.
detrition	The action of wearing something away by friction.
eating away	The act of consuming food.
erosion	Erosion by chemical action. The problem of soil erosion.
excoriation	Severe censure.
friction	A state of conflict between persons. A considerable amount of friction between father and son.
grinding	A harsh and strident sound as of the grinding of gears. The roasting and grinding of grain usually barley for use in brewing.
rubbing	The action of rubbing something. Dab at the stain vigorous rubbing could damage the carpet.
sapping	A watery solution of sugars, salts, and minerals that circulates through the vascular system of a plant.
scraping	A small amount of something that has been obtained by scraping it from a surface. All that bowing and scraping did not impress him.
weakening	Becoming weaker.
wearing	Geology the mechanical process of wearing or grinding something down as by particles washing over it.
wearing away	The act of having on your person as a covering or adornment.
wearing down	The mechanical process of wearing or grinding something down (as by particles washing over it.

Usage Examples of "Attrition" as a noun

• The squadron suffered severe attrition of its bombers.
• A war of attrition.
• The skull shows attrition of the edges of the teeth.
• The company said that it will reduce its worldwide employment by about 10% through attrition.
• The council is trying to wear down the opposition by attrition.

Associations of "Attrition" (30 Words)

abrade	Rub hard or scrub. It was a landscape slowly abraded by a fine stinging dust.
abrasion	The process of scraping or wearing something away. There were cuts and abrasions to the lips and jaw.
abrasive	(of a substance or material) capable of polishing or cleaning a hard surface by rubbing or grinding. The wood should be rubbed down with fine abrasive paper.
aphasia	Inability to use or understand language (spoken or written) because of a brain lesion.
bleed	An instance of bleeding. The cut was bleeding steadily.
bruise	Inflict a bruise or bruises on a part of the body. Potatoes bruise easily so treat them with care.
concussion	Temporary unconsciousness or confusion caused by a blow on the head. He was carried off the pitch with concussion.
continue	Continue a certain state condition or activity. He was unable to continue with his job.
contusion	An injury that doesn’t break the skin but results in some discoloration. A dark contusion on his cheek was beginning to swell.
endless	Having no known beginning and presumably no end. Endless waves.
fireproof	Make something fireproof. A fireproof dish.
grinding	Material resulting from the process of grinding. Crush it and add it to the honey with a grinding of pepper and salt.
handicap	A race or contest in which a handicap is imposed. Lack of funding has handicapped the development of research.
hemophilia	Congenital tendency to uncontrolled bleeding; usually affects males and is transmitted from mother to son.
hemorrhage	Lose blood from one’s body.
hurt	Hurt the feelings of. She didn t want to hurt his feelings.
incombustible	Not capable of igniting and burning. An incombustible floor construction.
injury	An instance of being injured. She suffered an injury to her back.
lacerate	Criticize forcefully or severely. Her true venom seems reserved for the media itself as she lacerates our obsession with celebrity.
loss	Military personnel lost by death or capture. Loss making industries.
maintainable	Capable of being maintained.
pain	Cause mental or physical pain to. As the intensity increased the sensation changed from tickle to pain.
permanent	Not capable of being reversed or returned to the original condition. Damage was not thought to be permanent.
resistant	Denoting starch that is not easily broken down by enzymes within the body and is therefore minimally absorbed during digestion. A water resistant adhesive.
scar	Mark with a scar or scars. High limestone scars bordered the road.
scrape	A place where soil has been scraped away especially a shallow hollow formed in the ground by a bird during a courtship display or for nesting. We scraped the dishes clean.
scratch	An act or spell of scratching oneself to relieve itching. Scratch that remark.
ulcer	A moral blemish or corrupting influence. He s a conman with an incurable ulcer called gambling.
welt	Put a welt on. His lip was beginning to thicken and welt from the blow.
wound	The act of inflicting a wound. The right reader of a good poem can tell the moment it strikes him that he has taken an immortal wound that he will never get over it.