gangrene.

the death of body tissue caused by lost blood supply, sometimes involving infection

Use it for

Words that belong together

• develop gangrene
• gangrene in a limb
• gangrenous tissue

On the page

The surgeon feared that gangrene had begun in the injured foot.

Untreated loss of circulation had led to gangrene.

The report used the word gangrene where he had expected a minor injury.

Usage notes

Primary curation section: Horror. A medical condition, not a synonym for every rotten wound or infection. Can support body-horror imagery; strongly unpleasant context. Usually uncountable. Related adjective: gangrenous.