attrition

A gradual fall in numbers or strength as people leave or resources are used up.

• Staff attrition has increased this year.
• The team lost members through attrition.
• Years of fighting became a war of attrition.

Similar words: gradual loss, depletion

Common phrases: staff attrition, attrition rate, war of attrition

To wear something down by rubbing or grinding it.

• Repeated contact can attrition the surface.
• The grinding process attritioned the rock into smaller particles.
• Constant rubbing had attritioned the edges of the sample.

Similar words: wear down, abrade

Common phrases: attrition the rock, attrition a surface, attrition the teeth

To become smaller in number as members leave or are lost.

• The group began to attrition after the first month.
• The original cohort attritioned to forty participants.
• Student numbers had attritioned steadily throughout the course.

How to use it: attrition to a number (The group attritioned to twenty members by December.)

Similar words: dwindle, decrease

Opposites: increase, grow

Common phrases: attrition to something, attrition over time, attrition gradually