Synonyms for

Cancer

Verb / ˈkænsɜ: / Another word for cancer — explore alternatives below. For syllable breakdowns and pronunciation, see this word on Syllablesworld.

Definition

a disease caused by an uncontrolled division of abnormal cells in a part of the body

Synonyms & similar words

cancerthecrab genuscancer crab cancer malignantneoplasticdisease tumor growth carcinoma neoplasm malignancy disease illness sickness ailment affliction malady condition disorder complaint infection virus bacteria germ bug plague

Synonyms by register

Formal

malignancy neoplasm carcinoma sarcoma

Informal

the big C the disease

Literary

the shadow the blight

Antonyms

health wellness vitality well-being cure recovery

Common collocations

  • cancer research
  • cancer treatment
  • breast cancer
  • lung cancer
  • skin cancer
  • cancer cell
  • cancer risk
  • cancer survivor

Word family

noun cancer
adjective cancerous

Usage note

While 'cancer' can refer to the disease, it also refers to a specific type of malignant tumor. It is often used metaphorically to describe something destructive or pervasive.

Example sentences

  1. She was diagnosed with cancer at a young age.
  2. The charity organization raises funds to help people with cancer.
  3. The doctors successfully treated his skin cancer.
  4. Smoking is a major cause of lung cancer.
  5. My aunt is a cancer survivor.

Quotes

  • Cancer is a word, not a sentence. - John Diamond
  • Cancer is a journey, but you walk the road alone. - Stuart Scott
  • Cancer is messy and scary. You throw everything at it, but don't forget to throw love at it. It turns out that might be the best weapon of all. - Regina Brett

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