Skip to main content
to atrophy

to atrophy

9 7.8
To become smaller and weaker, especially muscles, from not being used
  • verb
  • /ˈætrəfi/
  • Specialized
translation icon : atrofiarse
  • But why was handwriting allowed to atrophy in the first place?
  • muscles atrophy
  • atrophied limbs
  • allowed to atrophy

And the second question is what muscle has atrophied?

Autoplay Next

Examples

  • I mean, another thing that atrophies in marriage or long term relationships is communication.

  • If the muscle is never exercised, it will atrophy and lose strength.

    Academic text (2000)
  • Is that going to perhaps atrophy this part of the brain?

  • And we are allowing that app to atrophy the brains of kids, for instance, right?

  • So if you want your negative beliefs to atrophy, then you have to really stop using them.

  • And the way that we're going to get those connections to atrophy is actually going to start with our diet.

  • Muscles are supposed to atrophy.

  • I'm afraid my skill atrophied.

  • Asia's business model has atrophied, and it is unclear what will replace it.

    Academic text (2009)
  • If you do not use your muscles regularly, they will atrophy over time and lose strength.

Synonyms

to waste
vsto atrophy
143 5.1

To become thin and weak because of illness or a lack of food

is a specific medical shrinking of tissue or organs from disuse or disease
to waste away
vsto atrophy
7 5.5

To become weak and thin because of sickness or not eating enough

is the medical term for tissue or organ shrinking from disuse or disease

Antonyms

1.0

Become larger or more physically mature

How Wasted

to degenerate
34 6.3
to atrophy
  • Specialized
9 7.8
to shrink
181 2.8

Surface Forms

atrophy infinitive
atrophied past
atrophied past participle
atrophying present participle
atrophies third person singular

Etymology

Atrophy as a verb comes from Greek a- 'not' and troph 'nourishment'. So to atrophy is to waste away or 'shrink', as when muscles or skills become smaller and weaker from a lack of food or use.