Definition of "attrite" []

• Alternative form of attrit. (verb)
• Regretful of one's wrongdoing merely due to fear of punishment (compare contrite) (adjective)

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• "The other side of the issue is more direct: defending against hit-and-run (i) radically increases the economic cost of fielding an army, (ii) radically reduces military effectiveness, and (iii) if not done effectively, will gradually attrite the army to the point of lacking military effectiveness."
• "The way we are designed to fight and are fighting is to use intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance assets to identify enemy locations, and then use our air and long shooters, ATACMS, MLRS and artillery to attrite enemy forces, so that when we finally close in ground combat, in fact, it's not an even fight."
• "The first two clips highlight our efforts to attrite Taliban 5th Corps in the north near Mazar-i-Sharif."