severe v. violent v. terrible

Question

Situation: Cancer is a disease that millions of people die because of it. It requires a hard and long treatment for cruing.

Which of the following is correct, idiomatic and almost or exactly in the same sense as the original?

1) Cancer is a severe disease that millions of people die because of it.

2) Cancer is a violent disease that millions of people die because of it.

3) Cancer is a terrible diseas that millions of people die because of it.

Thank you.

Fivejedjon · Accepted Answer

None of them is correct.

Cancer is a disease that millions of people die of.

Hhtt · Answer

fivejedjonNone of them is correct.Cancer is a disease that millions of people die of.

But if treatmeant of cancer is long and hard and millions of people die of , then is cancer not a severe or violent or terrible disease? If not, please simple explain what a severe or violent or terrible disease is?

Thank you.

SoSaysSunny · Answer

YOUR ADJECTIVES

hhtt1) Cancer is a severe disease ...

I don't think a disease can be severe. But you can have a severe cold or a severe case of the measles.

hhtt2) Cancer is a violent disease ...

A violent disease would only be used in a very figurative way (giving human traits to an illness). The rest of your sentence is not figurative so I wouldn't use this phrase. A figurative example: Cancer is a violent disease that kills millions of people and tears families apart.

hhtt3) Cancer is a terrible disease ...

This sentence is okay.

THE END OF THE SENTENCE

hhtt1) Cancer is a severe disease that millions of people die because of it.

Die because of it is awkward and isn't natural after that. Better choices:

Cancer is a disease that kills millions of people.
Cancer is a disease that causes the death of millions of people.
Cancer is a disease that causes millions of deaths.

All of these sentences leave me wondering how long it takes cancer to kill millions of people. A year? A decade? A century?

Hhtt · Answer

SoSaysSunnyA violent disease would only be used in a very figurative way (giving human traits to an illness). The rest of your sentence is not figurative so I wouldn't use this phrase. A figurative example: Cancer is a violent disease that kills millions of people and tears families apart.

If violent is figurative what would be the situation for cruel? A cruel disease?

Thank you.

SoSaysSunny · Answer

cruel disease -- very bad, human characteristics: mean, intentionally causing pain or humiliation.

Breast cancer (and its treatment) is a cruel disease that shatters a woman's identity by taking her hair, her breast, and sometimes her life.

Hhtt · Answer

SoSaysSunnycruel disease -- very bad, human characteristics: mean, intentionally causing pain or humiliation.Breast cancer (and its treatment) is a cruel disease that shatters a woman's identity by taking her hair, her breast, and sometimes her life.

Is it still figurative? If so, what would be non-figurative word for these situations other than terrible?

Thank you.

SoSaysSunny · Answer

hhttIf so, what would be non-figurative word for these situations other than terrible?

(My) Categories of Figurative Language

Not Figurative / Purely Factual

Provides plain facts with no opinion, emotion, or imagery (word pictures).

Cancer causes deaths/pain. Cancer is a deadly disease. Cancer is an expensive disease. His cancer spread throughout his body.

(Somewhat) Figurative

Communicates the facts with some opinion, emotion, or imagery.

Cancer spreads like kudzu, always unwanted and nearly impossible to stop. The cancer diagnosis was a death sentence. The sharp wind blew all night.

Very Figurative

Communicates the facts with illogical (human characteristics/motives) or exaggerated language.

Cancer murders its victims. Cancer is a cruel disease. Cancer devours its victims. Breast cancer robs a woman of her dignity.

severe v. violent v. terrible

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YOUR ADJECTIVES

(My) Categories of Figurative Language

Not Figurative / Purely Factual

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