cannibalize

verb

can·​ni·​bal·​ize ˈka-nə-bə-ˌlīz 

cannibalized; cannibalizing

transitive verb

1

a

: to take salvageable parts from (something, such as a disabled machine) for use in building or repairing another machine

b

: to make use of (a part taken from one thing) in building, repairing, or creating something else

2

: to deprive of an essential part or element in creating or sustaining another facility or enterprise

… the energy system has begun cannibalizing the economic system it is supposed to fuel.

—Barry Commoner

3

: to use or draw on material of (another writer, an earlier work, etc.)

a biography that cannibalizes previous biographies

4

: to take (sales) away from an existing product by selling or being sold as a similar but new product usually from the same manufacturer

also : to affect (something, such as an existing product) adversely by cannibalizing sales

5

astronomy, of a celestial object : to incorporate mass from (a nearby object) through gravitational attraction

But some stellar black holes make themselves known because they exist in a binary system as the companion to a normal star, which they are cannibalizing.

—John Noble Wilford

intransitive verb

1

: to practice cannibalism

2

: to cannibalize one unit for the sake of another of the same kind

cannibalization

ˌka-nə-bə-lə-ˈzā-shən 

noun

Did you know?

During World War II, military personnel often used salvageable parts from disabled vehicles and aircraft to repair other vehicles and aircraft. This sacrifice of one thing for the sake of another of its kind must have reminded some folks of cannibalism by humans and animals because the process came to be known as cannibalizing. The armed forces of this time were also known to cannibalize—that is, to take away personnel from—units to build up other units. It didn't take long for this military slang to become civilianized. Since its demobilization, the term has been used in a variety of contexts.

Examples of cannibalize in a Sentence

He cannibalized one washing machine to fix another.

Many parts of the engine were cannibalized from older cars.

Recent Examples on the Web

At that level, the spike in yields may start cannibalizing demand from equities. — Sarah Min, CNBC, 23 July 2026

Ensembles of this size historically cannibalize their own campaigns, splitting supporting votes into confetti. — Clayton Davis, Variety, 23 July 2026

These factors resulted in persistent, high operating costs that cannibalized the budget for modernization. — Roshan Kumar Shetty, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026

Just as a host shouldn’t cannibalize their guests, guests shouldn’t overstay their welcome—which is exactly what the suitors courting Penelope do. — Natasha O'Neill, Vanity Fair, 16 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1873, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Rhymes for cannibalize

• actualize
• antagonize
• apologise
• apologize
• capitalize
• categorize
• characterize
• commercialize
• conceptualize
• contrariwise
• criminalize
• decentralize

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Kids Definition

cannibalize

verb

can·​ni·​bal·​ize ˈkan-ə-bə-ˌlīz 

cannibalized; cannibalizing

: to take apart a machine for parts to be used as replacements in other machines