canker Synonyms
Another word for canker
• noun (Context 1)
An ulcerous sore or open lesion, especially in the mouth or on the lips (often called a canker sore), or an inflammation of the ear or hoof in domestic animals.
"A painful canker sore on the inside of her cheek made it difficult to eat acidic foods."
• noun (Context 2)
A destructive fungal or bacterial plant disease that causes sharply defined areas of dead, sunken, or cracked bark on the stems, twigs, or trunks of trees and shrubs.
"The orchard lost several mature apple trees to a severe outbreak of fungal blight."
• noun (Context 3)
A corrupting, malign, or destructive influence that spreads gradually and is difficult to eradicate.
"Unchecked bribery had become a blight at the heart of the municipal administration."
• verb (Context 4)
To infect, consume, or corrupt with a destructive sore, plant disease, or moral decay.
"Years of bitter resentment had begun to corrupt his once generous spirit."
Opposites of canker
The opposite of canker shifts depending on context. Common opposites include: