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Compunction vs Attrition - What's the difference?

compunction | attrition | Related terms |

Compunction is a related term of attrition.


As nouns the difference between compunction and attrition

is that compunction is a pricking of conscience or a feeling of regret, especially one which is slight or fleeting while attrition is wearing or grinding down by friction.

compunction

English

Noun

(en noun)
  • A pricking of conscience or a feeling of regret, especially one which is slight or fleeting.
  • * :
  • [H]e would have had no compunction whatever in flinging him out of the highest window in Venice into the deepest water of the city.
  • * 1897 , , Dracula , ch. 3:
  • I felt no compunction in doing so, for under the circumstances I felt that I should protect myself in every way I could.
  • * 1920 , , Women in Love , ch. 8:
  • But he felt, later, a little compunction . He had been violent, cruel with poor Hermione. He wanted to recompense her, to make it up.
  • * 2003 February 16, Blaine Greteman, " No Peace Dividend," Time :
  • As for average U.S. consumers, they've shown little compunction about buying diamonds that fund bloody militias in Africa.

    Synonyms

    * regret, remorse, qualm * See also

    See also

    * contrition * penitence, penance * guilt

    attrition

    English

    Noun

  • wearing or grinding down by friction
  • the gradual reduction in a tangible or intangible resource due to causes that are passive and do not involve productive use of the resource.
  • (human resources) A gradual, natural reduction in membership or personnel, as through retirement, resignation, or death
  • (sciences) The loss of participants during an experiment
  • (theology) Imperfect contrition or remorse
  • (dentistry) The wearing of teeth due to their grinding
  • Synonyms

    * (employment reduction by natural causes) natural wastage

    Antonyms

    * accretion

    Derived terms

    * attrit * attritional * attritionary * attritive * attrition damage

    Anagrams

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