tu·ber·cu·lar
tu̇-ˈbər-kyə-lər 
tyu̇-
1
a
: of, relating to, or affected with tuberculosis
a tubercular patient
b
: caused by the tubercle bacillus
tubercular meningitis
2
: characterized by lesions that are or resemble tubercles
tubercular leprosy
3
: relating to, resembling, or constituting a tubercle
a tubercular lump
: a person with tuberculosis
Examples of tubercular in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Dominic Green, WSJ, 18 Nov. 2022
With our tubercular planet and medieval-minded politicians, goth remains—perhaps sadly—relevant.
—Michelle Tea, Harper's BAZAAR, 7 Mar. 2023
For starters, many tubercular elephants are asymptomatic, and in those that do express signs, symptoms tend to be vague: weight loss, exercise intolerance, coughing, and respiratory secretions.
—Rebecca Kreston, Discover Magazine, 1 Feb. 2016
In the 1950s new anti-tubercular drugs put sanatoriums out of business.
—Bruce Barcott, Discover Magazine, 16 Oct. 2012
All except for Ratso, a tubercular, disabled con man.
—Glenn Frankel, Washington Post, 16 June 2022
Long had a medical degree from Johns Hopkins and assisted tubercular patients at her practice in Denver, Colorado.
—Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 4 Jan. 2022
The site of the spectacular federal courthouse on the Arroyo Seco in Pasadena was originally a boarding house built in 1882 by Emma Bangs, who had brought her tubercular daughter west.
—Los Angeles Times, 11 Jan. 2022
The words séquelles pleurales—pleural effusions, or buildups of fluid around the lungs, which are sometimes a marker of tubercular infections—were just visible.
—Margaret Talbot, The New Yorker, 11 Aug. 2021
Adjective
Maria was tubercular, and John was perpetually ill; John Keats was among the fugitives seeking clean air there.
—Dominic Green, WSJ, 18 Nov. 2022
With our tubercular planet and medieval-minded politicians, goth remains—perhaps sadly—relevant.
—Michelle Tea, Harper's BAZAAR, 7 Mar. 2023
For starters, many tubercular elephants are asymptomatic, and in those that do express signs, symptoms tend to be vague: weight loss, exercise intolerance, coughing, and respiratory secretions.
—Rebecca Kreston, Discover Magazine, 1 Feb. 2016
In the 1950s new anti-tubercular drugs put sanatoriums out of business.
—Bruce Barcott, Discover Magazine, 16 Oct. 2012
All except for Ratso, a tubercular, disabled con man.
—Glenn Frankel, Washington Post, 16 June 2022
Long had a medical degree from Johns Hopkins and assisted tubercular patients at her practice in Denver, Colorado.
—Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 4 Jan. 2022
The site of the spectacular federal courthouse on the Arroyo Seco in Pasadena was originally a boarding house built in 1882 by Emma Bangs, who had brought her tubercular daughter west.
—Los Angeles Times, 11 Jan. 2022
The words séquelles pleurales—pleural effusions, or buildups of fluid around the lungs, which are sometimes a marker of tubercular infections—were just visible.
—Margaret Talbot, The New Yorker, 11 Aug. 2021
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'tubercular.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near tubercular
Cite this Entry
“Tubercular.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tubercular. Accessed 25 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
tubercular
1 of 2 adjective
tu·ber·cu·lar
t(y)u̇-ˈbər-kyə-lər
1
a
: of, relating to, or affected with tuberculosis : tuberculous
b
: caused by the tubercle bacillus
tubercular meningitis
2
: characterized by lesions that are or resemble tubercles
3
: relating to, resembling, or constituting a tubercle : tuberculated
tubercular
2 of 2 noun
: an individual affected with tuberculosis
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