canker 1 of 2

verb

Definition of cankernext
as in to poison
to lower in character, dignity, or quality such shameless ambulance chasing cankers the legal profession

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

canker

2 of 2

noun

as in rot

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Dissimilar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of canker
Noun
Nectria kills areas of woody tissue, sometimes creating cankers on the tree stem and large branches which in turn weaken the tree. — Pamm Cooper, Hartford Courant, 25 Jan. 2026 This damages the trunk and leaves an ugly, elongated canker that invites insects and stresses the tree, leading to stunted growth, sparse foliage, and stem dieback. — Luke Miller, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 Jan. 2026 Bacterial plant diseases include speck (a winter-surviving infection that attacks tomatoes), canker (which damages fruit trees including those producing apples and peaches), and blight (which rots melons, cucumbers, pumpkins, squash, peppers, tomatoes, eggplants, beans, and more). — New Atlas, 10 Jan. 2026 Even the most superb body begins to diminish in a person’s early 30s, thanks to the onset of sarcopenia, which sounds like a canker but means the incremental decline of muscle mass. — Sally Jenkins, The Atlantic, 18 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for canker
Recent Examples of Synonyms for canker
  1. poison
  2. rot
  3. corrupt
  4. decay
  5. degrade
  6. cancer
  7. deteriorate
  8. squalor
Verb
  • Not knowing she’d been poisoned and that it was related to Russian espionage, Rowley decided to run a few errands before joining her there.
    — Faith Karimi, CNN Money, 11 July 2026
  • Michael seemed to be saying that by admitting her dishonesty, Ethel would have ruined their childhood and poisoned any prospect of a future relationship with her.
    — Amy Weiss-Meyer, The Atlantic, 10 July 2026
Definition of poison
Noun
  • Areas with heavy rain, snow, or high humidity are more prone to wood rot, mildew, and moisture absorption, often requiring restaining every one to two years.
    — Timothy Dale, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 July 2026
  • To me, generative AI feels less like innovation than a symptom of a broader cultural and economic rot.
    — Reid Litman, Fortune, 5 July 2026
Definition of rot
Verb
  • The unsightly mushroom could have corrupted her maids’ morals, or even their health.
    — Leah Hudson, Popular Science, 9 July 2026
  • Radiation from space and other high-energy environments can corrupt data or permanently damage conventional electronics.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 9 July 2026
Definition of corrupt
Noun
  • Rather than arguing that hallucinations are the greatest threat, this article contends that the more significant long-term risk is human skill decay.
    — Demetri Giannikopoulos, Forbes.com, 11 July 2026
  • Significant rain can leave open trash cans soggy and soak any outdoor debris to the point of decay.
    — Alora Bopray, USA Today, 8 July 2026
Definition of decay
Verb
  • The attacks, involving fighter aircraft, drones and naval vessels, struck missile and drone facilities, naval assets and coastal defense systems to further degrade Iran's ability to threaten commercial shipping, Centcom said.
    — Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 15 July 2026
  • Preserving the forests that remain, while restoring those that have been degraded, may ultimately prove far more valuable than chasing ever-larger tree-planting targets alone.
    — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 14 July 2026
Definition of degrade
Noun
  • Professional groups representing cancer researchers, civil engineers, county governments, medical schools, housing agencies, city and municipal governments, nonprofits and others have publicly expressed concerns about potential consequences.
    — Corinne Purtill, Los Angeles Times, 10 July 2026
  • My medical background has made having breast cancer both easier and much, much harder.
    — Tara Thomas, Glamour, 10 July 2026
Definition of cancer
Verb
  • What began as a low-level juvenile case became five years in secure custody as his behavior deteriorated and new charges accumulated.
    — Christina Buttons, Washington Post, 14 July 2026
  • The sanctions come as the humanitarian situation on the island continues to deteriorate.
    — Nora Gámez Torres, Miami Herald, 13 July 2026
Definition of deteriorate
Noun
  • The children reportedly lived in squalor and weren’t enrolled in school.
    — Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 27 June 2026
  • Reform and Restore are no doubt relying on support from pockets of deprivation, squalor and neglect in Makerfield.
    — Alexander Smith, NBC news, 18 June 2026
Definition of squalor

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canisters
canker
cankered
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Cite this Entry

“Canker.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/canker. Accessed 18 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on canker

Nglish: Translation of canker for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about canker

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