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canker

1 synonyms and 0 antonyms for canker, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Noun — A disease that causes decay in plants, or the damaged area it leaves behind.

Synonyms

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

How to use canker

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

canker sore a canker on society

Etymology

From Old English cancer, "cancer" or "crab," ultimately from Latin cancer. A doublet of "cancer" and "chancre."

Full origin of canker →

Frequently asked questions

What does “canker” mean?

The word “canker” means a disease that causes decay in plants, or the damaged area it leaves behind. In plain terms, a sore or diseased spot, or something that quietly corrupts and eats away at something good.

How do you pronounce “canker”?

“Canker” is pronounced KANG-kuh (/ˈkæŋkɚ/ in IPA).

How do you use “canker” in a sentence?

Here is “canker” used in a sentence: “The orchard lost several apple trees to canker.”

What is another word for “canker”?

Words with a similar meaning to “canker” include encanker.

What part of speech is “canker”?

Depending on how it is used, “canker” can be a noun and a verb.

Where does the word “canker” come from?

The word “canker” comes from Latin. From Old English cancer, "cancer" or "crab," ultimately from Latin cancer. A doublet of "cancer" and "chancre.".

How many meanings does “canker” have?

“Canker” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a disease that causes decay in plants, or the damaged area it leaves behind.

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Synonyms and antonyms from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA.