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
Search revenue grew 17% year-over-year in the fourth quarter of 2025, quieting concerns over AI’s cannibalizing Google’s core business, and the company crossed $400 billion in annual revenue for the first time.
—
Andrew R. Chow, Time, 6 May 2026
But if those programs play each other in the play-in rounds, as seems likely, any financial windfall would be a mirage when the little guys cannibalize each other.
—Jim Alexander, Oc Register, 2 May 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for cannibalize
Andrew R. Chow, Time, 6 May 2026
But if those programs play each other in the play-in rounds, as seems likely, any financial windfall would be a mirage when the little guys cannibalize each other.
—Jim Alexander, Oc Register, 2 May 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for cannibalize
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cannibalize
Verb
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In the third, La Mirada used a single and two walks to load the bases with two outs but Escobar escaped when shortstop Angie Jimenez snagged a line drive.—
Dan Albano,
Oc Register,
30 May 2026
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Norrased, who did most of the communication with the villagers in Thai, taught them how to correctly use the mouthpiece for the oxygen tanks.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
30 May 2026
Verb
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If amino acids aren’t adequately replenished from dietary protein, the body will recycle parts of muscle instead.—
Bethany Brookshire,
Scientific American,
29 May 2026
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The presentation also will cover the Recycling Coach mobile app, battery recycling and the new holiday light recycling drop-off locations that will be available this fall, the release said.—
Aurora Beacon-News,
Chicago Tribune,
29 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Cannibalize.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cannibalize. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.
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