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
The rise of sports gambling hasn’t cannibalized existing casino revenue.
—
Ethan Hylton, IndyStar, 20 Aug. 2025
But with construction having cannibalized approximately 1,200 parking spots, residents in the neighborhoods bordering campus are worried about an influx of vehicles clogging residential streets.
—Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 13 Aug. 2025
That hit would come after several years of the city shelling out millions more in pension contributions to prevent the funds from cannibalizing their own assets.
—Alice Yin, Chicago Tribune, 5 Aug. 2025
The President’s books are still reporting healthy sales, but are being consumed by AI engines which profit from his thoughts by cannibalizing his concepts, thus undermining future sales of his books.
—Dade Hayes, Deadline, 5 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cannibalize
Ethan Hylton, IndyStar, 20 Aug. 2025
But with construction having cannibalized approximately 1,200 parking spots, residents in the neighborhoods bordering campus are worried about an influx of vehicles clogging residential streets.
—Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 13 Aug. 2025
That hit would come after several years of the city shelling out millions more in pension contributions to prevent the funds from cannibalizing their own assets.
—Alice Yin, Chicago Tribune, 5 Aug. 2025
The President’s books are still reporting healthy sales, but are being consumed by AI engines which profit from his thoughts by cannibalizing his concepts, thus undermining future sales of his books.
—Dade Hayes, Deadline, 5 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cannibalize
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cannibalize
Verb
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Photonic quantum computing is a quantum computation approach that uses photons—particles of light—as qubits.—
Gil Press,
Forbes.com,
16 Sep. 2025
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Zoryve has a unique active ingredient—roflumilast, an enzyme inhibitor that’s being used for the first time in a topical medication.—
Megan McIntyre,
Allure,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
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This includes serving as a sewage station for your body—filtering and detoxing your blood, breaking down old red blood cells and recycling their iron—and a manufacturing plant of sorts—making key proteins and immune system cells, storing vitamins and minerals and processing your nutrients.—
Bruce Y. Lee,
Forbes.com,
16 Sep. 2025
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This is a fairly minor entry in the MCU (Madea Cinematic Universe), one which recycles a great deal of content and even wholesale scenes from previous, similar Madea vehicles.—
Declan Gallagher,
Entertainment Weekly,
14 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Cannibalize.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cannibalize. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
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