noun
war of attrition
Refers to a conflict where each side tries to wear down the other's resources and morale over time, rather than seeking a quick decisive victory. Used in military, business, and competitive contexts.
両軍は消耗戦に陥り、戦線は数か月動かなかった。
Both armies fell into a war of attrition, and the front lines did not move for months.
価格競
Price competition tends to become a war of attrition, squeezing profits.
総力戦 is total war involving all national resources, whereas 消耗戦 is specifically about wearing down the enemy through sustained losses.
Compound of 消耗 (consumption, exhaustion) and 戦 (war, battle). The term is a direct calque of the English 'war of attrition' or similar Western military concepts, entering Japanese in the modern era.