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
  • Attackers are also targeting AI solutions themselves with prompt injection attacks, poisoned datasets and other increasingly advanced tactics.
    — Peter Garraghan, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026
  • The researchers note that developing robust pre-treatment systems will be vital, as everyday impurities can quickly poison and deactivate the sensitive metal catalyst.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 20 July 2026
Definition of poison
Noun
  • Joe is a knowing witness to and participant in the rot at the heart of Western Civilization.
    — Andy Andersen, Vulture, 2 Aug. 2026
  • To thwart blossom end rot, some gardeners are purchasing blossom set sprays containing calcium to apply to their plants’ foliage.
    — Dawn Pettinelli, Hartford Courant, 19 July 2026
Definition of rot
Verb
  • The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has reported that AI training data and inputs are being manipulated and warned that attackers could influence model behavior by corrupting the information AI systems rely upon.
    — Syed Ali, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026
  • Most of the other relationships in the movie are hopelessly corrupted or poisoned in some way, as Letty moves between an unloving mother and a vengeful former lover, and others whose closeness is a weapon to be feared.
    — Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 28 July 2026
Definition of corrupt
Noun
  • The system detects gamma rays released when atomic nuclei collide and decay, giving researchers a direct look at the forces holding atomic cores together.
    — Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 1 Aug. 2026
  • In many cities, the autonomy of drug users has taken precedence over nearly everything and everyone else, not least working-class families like Monsegur’s who must live alongside addicts and accept dystopian decay.
    — Michael Powell, The Atlantic, 30 July 2026
Definition of decay
Verb
  • But who has the time to wait for AI images to degrade naturally as they get passed around the Internet?
    — ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 29 July 2026
  • The signal degrades at every step along this journey, and the guessers have to do their best with some pretty warped data.
    — Tasha Robinson, Vulture, 28 July 2026
Definition of degrade
Noun
  • Cristina Ulbrich, the wife of Falcons defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich, passed away Sunday after a long battle with cancer, the organization announced in a press release Thursday night.
    — Daniel Flick, AJC.com, 31 July 2026
  • Princess Kate Princess Kate spent much of 2024 out of the public eye amid her cancer diagnosis, treatment and recovery.
    — Stephanie Petit, PEOPLE, 31 July 2026
Definition of cancer
Verb
  • Her vision deteriorated, at times disappearing completely, while neurological symptoms led to seizure-like episodes and stroke-like symptoms.
    — Toria Sheffield, PEOPLE, 1 Aug. 2026
  • Venezuela’s fragile health care system had been deteriorating for years before two powerful earthquakes rattled the South American nation last month, killing more than 5,000 people and further exacerbating its ongoing health crisis.
    — Nicole Acevedo, NBC news, 31 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

Browse Nearby Words

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 5 Aug. 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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