From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishwar of attritionˌwar of atˈtrition noun (plural wars of attrition) [countable] FIGHT FOR OR AGAINST somethinga struggle in which you harm your opponent in a lot of small ways, so that they become gradually weaker
Examples from the Corpus
war of attrition• One is to continue his war of attrition against parliament, albeit from a position of greater strength since the referendum.• Rodrigo now began a systematic war of attrition, biting deep into Valencian territory and reducing several of its castles to rubble.• During 1917 the war of attrition continued.• The highlights of this war of attrition are well known. 