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
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
Several years ago, niche review sites began to see their search clicks cannibalized by big brands generating SEO spam to take the top of the search results page.
—Ryan Whitwam, ArsTechnica, 6 Aug. 2025
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
Several years ago, niche review sites began to see their search clicks cannibalized by big brands generating SEO spam to take the top of the search results page.
—Ryan Whitwam, ArsTechnica, 6 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cannibalized
Verb
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However, Corbett was used as a utility fill-in starter at left guard, center and right guard for the remainder of the season.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
11 Jan. 2026
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Elisa, a Concord resident who asked that her last name not be used, said the incident reflects a broader sense of fear within communities.—
Da Lin,
CBS News,
11 Jan. 2026
Verb
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But waste diversion rates — the amount of garbage being recycled instead of dumped in landfills — remain stubbornly low.—
Adam Harrington,
CBS News,
7 Jan. 2026
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Cerdier added that Turkey is slowing down due to Asian competitors, while Western Europe is likely to remain stable, focusing on premium, sustainable and recycled denim rather than volume.—
Angela Velasquez,
Sourcing Journal,
6 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Cannibalized.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cannibalized. Accessed 17 Jan. 2026.
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