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.
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Recent Examples of cannibalize
To some extent, the cool commercial logic of the fashion industry—which transforms beautiful, original works into cheaply reproducible goods, season after season—echoes that of Hollywood, which regularly cannibalizes and, yes, franchises its greatest successes.
—
Justin Chang, New Yorker, 29 Apr. 2026
Astronomers watched as jets blasting from a black hole cannibalized a blue supergiant companion star.
—Robert Lea, Space.com, 21 Apr. 2026
No small wonder that Scorcese self-cannibalized the move in several subsequent projects.
—Literary Hub, 15 Apr. 2026
SaaS profit margins may compress and consolidation may follow, but not because AI cannibalized the industry, Kahn explains.
—Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 6 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for cannibalize
Justin Chang, New Yorker, 29 Apr. 2026
Astronomers watched as jets blasting from a black hole cannibalized a blue supergiant companion star.
—Robert Lea, Space.com, 21 Apr. 2026
No small wonder that Scorcese self-cannibalized the move in several subsequent projects.
—Literary Hub, 15 Apr. 2026
SaaS profit margins may compress and consolidation may follow, but not because AI cannibalized the industry, Kahn explains.
—Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 6 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for cannibalize
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cannibalize
Verb
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Guests can rent courtesy bikes or use trail maps to explore local running routes.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
23 May 2026
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Both use Virtue, a product line of serums, shampoos, and hair masks that prioritize strengthening the hair while promoting growth, hydration, and an overall healthy scalp (the key to it all).—
Reece Andavolgyi,
InStyle,
23 May 2026
Verb
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Only between 30%-40% of Hong Kong’s waste is recycled, according to official figures, compared to more than half in Taiwan and South Korea.—
Catherine Phillips,
CNN Money,
24 May 2026
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Later, Throw shared his results in a PowerPoint presentation to the Porter Town Council, noting that 26% of the items could have been recycled.—
Jim Woods,
Chicago Tribune,
23 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Cannibalize.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cannibalize. Accessed 24 May. 2026.
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