Scrofulous / adjective / scrof·​u·​lous

Scrofulous refers to someone who appears to have the disease “scrofula.” It's characterized by the presence of scaly lumps and an unpleasant appearance. The most common type of this condition is tuberculosis, but it can also be caused by other diseases, such as leprosy and sarcoidosis.

Scrofulous lesions may interfere with breathing and eating, so it's important to consult your doctor if you experience any unusual symptoms related to your health or appearance.

We also use the word scrofulous as an adjective to describe the outward appearance of people who appear to be sickly or ill, or less commonly,  to describe the behaviors of those who behave immorally.

In a Sentence

Scrofulous individuals behave badly and always find themselves in hot water.

The doctor diagnosed him with a scrofulous infection and advised him and his family to quarantine at home for at least one month.

His scrofulous appearance made everyone avoid him.

Etymology

We derived the word scrofulous from a combination of Greek and Medieval Latin words. The Greek skrufios represents "a wormlike appearance," and the Medieval Latin word scrophulosus denotes being afflicted with the disease of the scrofula.

Synonyms

Immoral, Tumorous

Antonyms

Moral, Nonproliferation