Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Relating to or affected by cancer: Describes something that is characterized by or involves the disease cancer.
   • Resembling cancer in its harmful growth or spread: Used metaphorically to describe something evil, corrupt, or destructive that grows and spreads in a harmful way.

Usage and Examples

• Literal Medical Usage:

  • The biopsy confirmed the tumor was cancerous.
  • She underwent surgery to remove the cancerous tissue.

• Metaphorical Usage:

  • Hatred can be a cancerous emotion, spreading through a community.
  • The cancerous corruption within the organization eventually led to its collapse.

Advanced Usage

• "cancerous growth": A literal term for a tumor or mass of cells that is malignant.
  • Doctors are monitoring the cancerous growth closely.
• "cancerous to": A metaphorical structure indicating something is destructive or harmful to a system, idea, or moral state.
  • Such lies are cancerous to the trust in a relationship.

Variants and Related Words

• Cancer (n): The disease characterized by the uncontrolled division of abnormal cells.
  • He was diagnosed with lung cancer.
• Carcinogenic (adj): Having the potential to cause cancer.
  • Asbestos is a carcinogenic material.

Synonyms

• Malignant: (In medicine) tending to become progressively worse and potentially result in death; (more generally) very harmful.
• Corrosive: Tending to cause corrosion or gradual destruction; can be used metaphorically.
• Virulent: Extremely severe or harmful in its effects; can describe a disease or a feeling/action.

Antonyms

• Benign: (In medicine) not harmful in effect; (generally) gentle and kindly.
• Healthy: In a good physical or mental condition; not diseased.
• Wholesome: Conducive to or suggestive of good health and physical well-being; morally beneficial.

Adjective

1. like a cancer; an evil that grows and spreads
   • remorse was cancerous within him
   • pornography is cancerous to the moral development of our children
2. relating to or affected with cancer
   • a cancerous growth