Synonyms/Hypernyms (Ordered by Estimated Frequency) of noun attrition

5 senses of attrition

Sense 1
abrasion, attrition, corrasion, detrition -- (erosion by friction)
       => erosion, eroding, eating away, wearing, wearing away -- ((geology) the mechanical process of wearing or grinding something down (as by particles washing over it))

Sense 2
grinding, abrasion, attrition, detrition -- (the wearing down of rock particles by friction due to water or wind or ice)
       => friction, rubbing -- (the resistance encountered when one body is moved in contact with another)

Sense 3
attrition, contrition, contriteness -- (sorrow for sin arising from fear of damnation)
       => sorrow, regret, rue, ruefulness -- (sadness associated with some wrong done or some disappointment; "he drank to drown his sorrows"; "he wrote a note expressing his regret"; "to his rue, the error cost him the game")

Sense 4
attrition -- (a wearing down to weaken or destroy; "a war of attrition")
       => decrease, lessening, drop-off -- (a change downward; "there was a decrease in his temperature as the fever subsided"; "there was a sharp drop-off in sales")

Sense 5
attrition -- (the act of rubbing together; wearing something down by friction)
       => friction, detrition, rubbing -- (effort expended in moving one object over another with pressure)