as in erosion
a gradual weakening, loss, or destruction took the machinery out of operation since attrition had led to the main mechanism's breaking

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of attrition An ailing pitching staff was no help, though just about every team goes through attrition throughout a season. Jackson Roberts, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Oct. 2025 Ukraine is fighting a war of attrition. Robert F. Worth, The Atlantic, 7 Oct. 2025 But, Mrozowski wrote that Michigan districts serving high populations of students from low-income backgrounds struggle to recruit and retain top talent, and the attrition rates for Latino and Black teachers are higher than the state average. Lily Altavena, Freep.com, 25 Sep. 2025 The company underlined that shipyards report attrition rates of 20–22% among average workers, with critical trades experiencing rates as high as 30% or more. Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 24 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for attrition
Recent Examples of Synonyms for attrition
erosion
Noun
  • The storm is expected to cause widespread power outages, flooding, and beach erosion so severe that some beaches may no longer exist.
    Kate Plummer, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Oct. 2025
  • Dangerous swimming and surfing conditions and localized beach erosion.
    NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 14 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Attrition.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/attrition. Accessed 20 Oct. 2025.

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