cancerous

/ˈkænsərəs/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈkænsərəs/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈkan(t)-s(ə-)rəs/ (ame, mw)

cancerous — adjective

  • cancerouspositive
  • more cancerouscomparative
  • most canceroussuperlative

1. showing cancer, caused by it, or made of cells that are growing in that dangerou

1.形容詞C1
釋義

showing cancer, caused by it, or made of cells that are growing in that dangerous way.

例句

The surgeon removed a cancerous lump from Layla's left breast.

cancerous + body tissue noun

Tests showed that the dark mole on Otis's shoulder was cancerous.

be cancerous after a medical test

同義詞
  • malignant

    more technical and especially common for tumors or growths in medical contexts

  • cancer-related

    broader; can describe something connected with cancer without saying the tissue itself has it

反義詞
  • benign

    medical opposite for a growth that is not cancer

  • healthy

    general opposite when tissue is normal and not diseased

文法句型

cancerous + cell/tissue/growth/lump

become/be cancerous

用法筆記

Usually used for cells, tissue, lumps, growths, or other body parts that a doctor has identified as having cancer. It can appear after a linking verb in patterns such as become cancerous.

2. spreading through a group or system in a way that keeps damaging more parts of i

2.形容詞C2
釋義

spreading through a group or system in a way that keeps damaging more parts of it, like a disease growing inside the body.

例句

By exam week, cheating had become cancerous in the whole class.

become cancerous in + group

The coach said a cancerous team culture was ruining the club.

cancerous + social problem noun

同義詞
  • toxic

    more common in everyday speech for harmful relationships or workplaces

  • corrosive

    more formal; stresses gradual damage to trust or structure

  • destructive

    broader and less focused on harmful spread

反義詞
  • healthy

    describes a group or system working in a supportive way

  • healing

    suggests repair rather than continuing harm

文法句型

cancerous + culture/corruption/problem

become/turn cancerous

用法筆記

Mostly used for harmful behavior, feelings, or systems that keep spreading and damaging a larger group. Distinguish from sense 1 (WITH CANCER): this sense is figurative, not medical.