Synonyms of cannibalize

cannibalize

verb

as in to use

to remove parts from a machine, car, etc., to repair or build another one

He cannibalized one washing machine to fix another.

Many parts of the engine were cannibalized from older cars.

Related Words

• use
• recycle
• utilize
• employ
• operate
• exploit
• reuse
• harness
• apply
• manipulate
• exercise
• handle
• work
• wield
• direct
• run

Dissimilar Words

• dump
• ignore
• chuck
• toss
• throw away
• throw out
• neglect
• junk
• misuse
• misapply

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of cannibalize

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

By 1816, gun manufacturer Simeon North’s milling machines were producing interchangeable metal parts, allowing the armed forces to cannibalize parts. — Guru Madhavan, IEEE Spectrum, 29 June 2026

But on top of that, many series decide to submit only one episode per category to keep from cannibalizing their own vote totals. — Joe Reid, Vulture, 20 June 2026

That Montreal had so much firepower at the top of the lineup, led by 2025 MVP Marie-Philip Poulin, Laura Stacey and Abby Roque, likely cannibalized some of Desbiens’ MVP case. — Hailey Salvian, New York Times, 16 June 2026

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