gangrene vs. necrosis

gangrene

noun

  1. necrosis or death of soft tissue due to obstructed circulation, usually followed by decomposition and putrefaction.

  2. moral or spiritual corruption and decadence that pervades an individual or group.

    “This church body has been afflicted with a spiritual gangrene that is poisoning our relationship with the Lord,” the preacher expostulated.

    Synonyms: degeneracy, depravity, rot, decay

verb (used with or without object)

gangrened, gangrening 

  1. to affect or become affected with gangrene.

necrosis

noun

  1. death of a circumscribed portion of animal or plant tissue.