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
While many tech giants have risen and fallen — from Digital Equipment Corporation to Yahoo to BlackBerry — Microsoft has navigated multiple technological revolutions by making strategic pivots and occasionally cannibalizing its own successful products.
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Jackie Snow, Quartz, 3 Apr. 2025
What’s interesting about music’s growth is that innovation hasn’t cannibalized older revenue streams.
—Kristin Westcott Grant, Forbes, 18 Mar. 2025
Aron had company at CinemaCon, where exhibition executives argued the new distribution models cannibalize their business.
—Matt Donnelly, Variety, 4 Apr. 2025
In comments at the Morgan Stanley media conference, the Fox CEO was again extremely careful to stress that the goal is not to cannibalize linear television and Fox will not advertise it on linear television but is meant purely to capture those who cut the cord or have never subscribed to cable.
—Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 3 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cannibalize
Jackie Snow, Quartz, 3 Apr. 2025
What’s interesting about music’s growth is that innovation hasn’t cannibalized older revenue streams.
—Kristin Westcott Grant, Forbes, 18 Mar. 2025
Aron had company at CinemaCon, where exhibition executives argued the new distribution models cannibalize their business.
—Matt Donnelly, Variety, 4 Apr. 2025
In comments at the Morgan Stanley media conference, the Fox CEO was again extremely careful to stress that the goal is not to cannibalize linear television and Fox will not advertise it on linear television but is meant purely to capture those who cut the cord or have never subscribed to cable.
—Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 3 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cannibalize
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cannibalize
Verb
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While rain ponchos stayed tucked away, the real stars of the show were hand fans — used more as percussion instruments than for cooling off.—
Billboard Brasil,
Billboard,
5 May 2025
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The company uses green chemicals and operates at room temperature to reduce energy consumption and the need to pre-wash materials.—
Jennifer Bringle,
Sourcing Journal,
5 May 2025
Verb
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Single-use plastics are a type of plastic that is used once before being thrown away or recycled, such as soda bottles, straws and coffee stirrers, according to Plastic Free Challenge.—
Melina Khan,
USA Today,
15 May 2025
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In Arizona and Nevada, efforts to recycle photovoltaic panels are also growing.—
Bill Frist,
Forbes.com,
13 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Cannibalize.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cannibalize. Accessed 19 May. 2025.
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