cannibalism
noun
can·ni·bal·ism
ˈka-nə-bə-ˌli-zəm 
1
: the usually ritualistic eating of human flesh by a human being
2
: the eating of the flesh of an animal by another animal of the same kind
3
: an act of cannibalizing something
Examples of cannibalism in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Come for the cannibalism, stay for the mind control and shifting allegiances.
—
Caitlin Starling, People.com, 19 May 2025
Later, native people found mutilated bodies farther south, indicating the explorers had resorted to cannibalism.
—Alec Luhn, Scientific American, 20 May 2025
While the makers of Eden argued that the movie heavily alludes to cannibalism, the court said that the plot instead focuses on the characters’ debate over whether to withhold food from injured survivors.
—Winston Cho, HollywoodReporter, 28 Apr. 2025
A lot of cannibalism, a lot of gore, a lot of gay shipping, and a lot of antlers.
—Rebecca Alter, Vulture, 14 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cannibalism
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Caitlin Starling, People.com, 19 May 2025
Later, native people found mutilated bodies farther south, indicating the explorers had resorted to cannibalism.
—Alec Luhn, Scientific American, 20 May 2025
While the makers of Eden argued that the movie heavily alludes to cannibalism, the court said that the plot instead focuses on the characters’ debate over whether to withhold food from injured survivors.
—Winston Cho, HollywoodReporter, 28 Apr. 2025
A lot of cannibalism, a lot of gore, a lot of gay shipping, and a lot of antlers.
—Rebecca Alter, Vulture, 14 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cannibalism
Cite this Entry
“Cannibalism.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cannibalism. Accessed 6 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
cannibalism
noun
can·ni·bal·ism
ˈkan-ə-bə-ˌliz-əm
1
: the eating of human flesh by a human being
2
: the eating of the flesh of an animal by another animal of the same kind
Medical Definition
cannibalism
noun
can·ni·bal·ism
-bə-ˌliz-əm
1
: the usually ritualistic eating of human flesh by a human being
2
: the eating of the flesh or the eggs of any animal by its own kind
3
: the pecking and tearing of the live flesh of its own members in a domestic poultry flock compare pecking order
4
: oral sadism
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