(adj) like a cancer; an evil that grows and spreads, Example:remorse was cancerous within him; pornography is cancerous to the moral development of our children
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English (GCIDE) v.0.53 Collaborative International Dictionary (GCIDE)
a. [ Cf. F. cancéreux ] Like a cancer; having the qualities or virulence of a cancer; affected with cancer; as, a cancerous growth. “cancerous vices” G. Eliot. [ 1913 Webster ]
-- Can"cer*ous*ly, adv. -- Can"cer*ous*ness, n. [ 1913 Webster ]