as in used
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 cannibalized
The beatdown on Alphabet shares came despite better-than-forecast revenue growth that indicates the company’s advertising sales are in no way being cannibalized by consumer adoption of AI, including its own Gemini AI chatbot and its AI Mode in Google Search.
—
Jim Edwards, Fortune, 5 Feb. 2026
Investors will also be watching for signs of ongoing search growth, and indications that AI hasn’t cannibalized the company’s core business.
—Samantha Subin, CNBC, 27 Jan. 2026
Having cannibalized what’s there, Musk wants to use his chatbot to remake the media, internet, and universe of knowledge to his liking.
—Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 28 Oct. 2025
During the first billion years of the galaxy, the Milky Way essentially cannibalized many neighboring smaller galaxy-like systems.
—Chris Young, Interesting Engineering, 16 Oct. 2025
At the 2025 Emmys, Domingo didn’t disappoint with his innate knack for wearing a bold look without being cannibalized by it.
—Brett F. Braley-Palko, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
The flagships seek to take on an upscale aura, and position the high street brand as aspirational to fend off Chinese ultra-fast fashion players such as Shein and Temu, which have cannibalized the low-cost market.
—Rhonda Richford, Footwear News, 10 Sep. 2025
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
Jim Edwards, Fortune, 5 Feb. 2026
Investors will also be watching for signs of ongoing search growth, and indications that AI hasn’t cannibalized the company’s core business.
—Samantha Subin, CNBC, 27 Jan. 2026
Having cannibalized what’s there, Musk wants to use his chatbot to remake the media, internet, and universe of knowledge to his liking.
—Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 28 Oct. 2025
During the first billion years of the galaxy, the Milky Way essentially cannibalized many neighboring smaller galaxy-like systems.
—Chris Young, Interesting Engineering, 16 Oct. 2025
At the 2025 Emmys, Domingo didn’t disappoint with his innate knack for wearing a bold look without being cannibalized by it.
—Brett F. Braley-Palko, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
The flagships seek to take on an upscale aura, and position the high street brand as aspirational to fend off Chinese ultra-fast fashion players such as Shein and Temu, which have cannibalized the low-cost market.
—Rhonda Richford, Footwear News, 10 Sep. 2025
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cannibalized
Verb
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The official told Semafor that other frontier AI companies are close to an agreement allowing them to be used in classified settings.—
Reed Albergotti,
semafor.com,
25 Feb. 2026
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Diesel is the fuel used by the trucks owned or hired by private companies in Cuba to transport food and other supplies from the Port of Mariel in Havana to their warehouses, and then to other private businesses, such as restaurants and small grocery stores around the country.—
Nora Gámez Torres,
Miami Herald,
25 Feb. 2026
Verb
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But many business owners chose to let the city dispose of the carts, which are either recycled, taken to the dump or donated.—
N'dea Yancey-Bragg,
USA Today,
22 Feb. 2026
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The vehicle's designers relied on recycled plastics for the interior and the knit upholstery is made from 100% recycled PET.—
Morgan Korn,
ABC News,
22 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Cannibalized.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cannibalized. Accessed 27 Feb. 2026.
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