Attrition vs. Contrition — What's the Difference?

A rubbing away or wearing down by friction.

In Christianity, contrition or contriteness (from the Latin contritus 'ground to pieces', i.e. crushed by guilt) is repentance for sins one has committed.

A gradual reduction in number or strength because of stress or military action.

Sincere remorse for wrongdoing; repentance.

A gradual reduction in personnel or membership because of resignation, retirement, or death, often viewed in contrast to reduction from layoffs.

The state of being contrite; sincere penitence or remorse.

Roman Catholic Church Repentance for sin motivated by fear of punishment rather than by love of God.

(obsolete) The act of grinding or rubbing to powder.

Grinding down or wearing away by friction.

The act of grinding or ribbing to powder; attrition; friction; rubbing.

The gradual reduction in a tangible or intangible resource due to causes that are passive and do not involve productive use of the resource.

The state of being contrite; deep sorrow and repentance for sin, because sin is displeasing to God; humble penitence; through repentance.

(human resources) A gradual, natural reduction in membership or personnel, as through retirement, resignation, or death.

Sorrow for sin arising from fear of damnation

(sciences) The loss of participants during an experiment.

(theology) Imperfect contrition or remorse.

(dentistry) The wearing of teeth due to their grinding.

(linguistics) The loss of a first or second language or a portion of that language.

(transitive) To grind or wear down through friction.

(transitive) To reduce the number of (jobs or workers) by not hiring new employees to fill positions that become vacant (often with out).

(intransitive) To undergo a reduction in number.

The act of rubbing together; friction; the act of wearing by friction, or by rubbing substances together; abrasion.

The state of being worn.

Grief for sin arising only from fear of punishment or feelings of shame. See Contrition.

Erosion by friction

The wearing down of rock particles by friction due to water or wind or ice

Sorrow for sin arising from fear of damnation

A wearing down to weaken or destroy;

The act of rubbing together; wearing something down by friction