atrophy Definition
- 1a wasting away or progressive decline of a body part or tissue
- 2a gradual decline in effectiveness or vigor due to underuse or neglect
Using atrophy: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "atrophy" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
The patient's muscles had atrophied after being bedridden for months.
Example
The company's profits began to atrophy due to poor management.
Example
Without regular exercise, the body will begin to atrophy over time.
atrophy Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms for atrophy
- decay
- deterioration
- degeneration
- wasting
- decline
Antonyms for atrophy
Phrases with atrophy
a condition where the brain cells and connections shrink and weaken, leading to cognitive decline
Example
Brain atrophy is a common symptom of Alzheimer's disease.
a condition where the muscles waste away and weaken due to lack of use or other factors
Example
After breaking his arm, he experienced muscle atrophy in his injured limb.
social atrophy
a decline in social skills or relationships due to lack of use or practice
Example
Spending too much time alone can lead to social atrophy and difficulty interacting with others.
Origins of atrophy
from Greek 'atrophos', meaning 'ill-fed'
Summary: atrophy in Brief
'Atrophy' [ˈætrəfi] refers to the wasting away or decline of a body part or tissue, or a gradual decline in effectiveness or vigor due to underuse or neglect. Examples include muscle atrophy and brain atrophy. The term can also be used metaphorically to describe social atrophy or the decline of skills or relationships due to lack of use. Synonyms include 'decay' and 'deterioration.'