Atrophy — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun verb /ˈa-trə-fē/ at·ro·phy

Meaning & Definition of Atrophy

Atrophy (noun)

  1. decrease in size or wasting away of a body part or tissue; also, arrested development or loss of a part or organ incidental to the normal development or life of an animal or plant
  2. a wasting away or progressive decline

Atrophy (verb)

  1. to waste away (as from disease or disuse), to undergo atrophy; also, to cause (something) to waste away or undergo atrophy

Atrophy (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to become worse or of less value

    "in the years following the closing of the last textile mill, the town atrophied"

    similar: crumble, decay, decline, degenerate, descend, deteriorate, devolve, ebb, regress, retrograde, rot, sink, worsen, go to pot, go to seed
    related: abate, de-escalate, diminish, downsize, dwindle, recede, wane, break down, corrupt, decompose, degrade, dilapidate, disintegrate, molder, putrefy, sour, spoil, lessen, lower, reduce, debilitate, undermine, droop, fail, fall, flag, lag, languish, run down, sag, slip, waste (away), weaken, wilt
    opposite: ameliorate, improve, meliorate
    near: better, upgrade, enhance, enrich, fortify, heighten, intensify, strengthen, advance, develop, march, proceed, progress

Atrophy (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. as in degeneration, decline

    similar: debilitation, decay, decaying, declension, decline, degeneration, descent, deterioration, ebbing, enfeeblement, weakening, regression, relapse, setback, drooping, flagging, limping, exhaustion
    opposite: comeback, improvement, rally, recovery, recuperation, rehabilitation, revitalization, snapback, invigoration, strengthening, progress, rejuvenation, rejuvenescence

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Atrophy

The most common words with a similar meaning to Atrophy:

crumble, decay, decline, degenerate, descend, deteriorate, devolve, ebb, regress, retrograde, rot, sink, worsen, go to pot, go to seed, debilitation, decaying, declension, degeneration, descent, deterioration, ebbing, enfeeblement, weakening, regression, relapse, setback, drooping, flagging, limping, exhaustion

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Atrophy

Words with the opposite meaning of Atrophy:

ameliorate, improve, meliorate, comeback, improvement, rally, recovery, recuperation, rehabilitation, revitalization, snapback, invigoration, strengthening, progress, rejuvenation, rejuvenescence

Related Words for Atrophy

abate, de-escalate, diminish, downsize, dwindle, recede, wane, break down, corrupt, decompose, degrade, dilapidate, disintegrate, molder, putrefy, sour, spoil, lessen, lower, reduce, debilitate, undermine, droop, fail, fall, flag, lag, languish, run down, sag

Near Antonyms of Atrophy

better, upgrade, enhance, enrich, fortify, heighten, intensify, strengthen, advance, develop, march, proceed

Word Forms of Atrophy

Inflections: atrophies, atrophied, atrophying

Derived words: atrophic (adjective)

Origin & Etymology of Atrophy

Late Latin atrophia, from Greek, from atrophos ill fed, from a- + trephein to nourish

First known use: 1601

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Atrophy

Frequently Asked Questions about Atrophy

What does "Atrophy" mean?

"Atrophy" means decrease in size or wasting away of a body part or tissue; also, arrested development or loss of a part or organ incidental to the normal development or life of an animal or plant. As an a noun and a verb, it is defined as: decrease in size or wasting away of a body part or tissue; also, arrested development or loss of a part or organ incidental to the normal development or life of an animal or plant. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Atrophy"?

Other words for "Atrophy" include crumble, decay, decline, degenerate, descend, deteriorate, devolve and ebb. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Atrophy" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Atrophy"?

There are 65 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Atrophy". Common alternatives include crumble, decay, decline, degenerate, descend, deteriorate, devolve, ebb, regress and retrograde.

What is the opposite of "Atrophy"?

Antonyms of "Atrophy" include ameliorate, improve, meliorate, comeback, improvement, rally, recovery and recuperation. Near antonyms include better, upgrade, enhance and enrich.

How do you use "Atrophy" in a sentence?

Examples of "Atrophy" in a sentence: "in the years following the closing of the last textile mill, the town atrophied".

Is "Atrophy" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Atrophy" can be used as a noun and a verb, depending on the context.

Is "Atrophy" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a C2-level word, "Atrophy" is typical of Cambridge C2 Proficiency (CPE), IELTS band 8.5–9.0, TOEFL iBT 114–120, PTE Academic 85–90. Advanced words like this are also useful for the GRE, SAT, GMAT, and LSAT.

How do you pronounce "Atrophy"?

"Atrophy" is pronounced /ˈa-trə-fē/ and divided into syllables as at·ro·phy.