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
That Montreal had so much firepower at the top of the lineup, led by 2025 MVP Marie-Philip Poulin, Laura Stacey and Abby Roque, likely cannibalized some of Desbiens’ MVP case.
—
Hailey Salvian,
New York Times,
16 June 2026
Analysts caution, however, that many of these vehicles are believed to be in storage, maintained at low readiness or cannibalized for parts.
—
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
28 May 2026
Astronomers watched as jets blasting from a black hole cannibalized a blue supergiant companion star.
—
Robert Lea,
Space.com,
21 Apr. 2026
No small wonder that Scorcese self-cannibalized the move in several subsequent projects.
—
Literary Hub,
15 Apr. 2026
SaaS profit margins may compress and consolidation may follow, but not because AI cannibalized the industry, Kahn explains.
—
Sheryl Estrada,
Fortune,
6 Apr. 2026
Yeah, streamers have really cannibalized the romcom genre.
—
Zac Ntim,
Deadline,
1 Apr. 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
Hailey Salvian,
New York Times,
16 June 2026
Analysts caution, however, that many of these vehicles are believed to be in storage, maintained at low readiness or cannibalized for parts.
—
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
28 May 2026
Astronomers watched as jets blasting from a black hole cannibalized a blue supergiant companion star.
—
Robert Lea,
Space.com,
21 Apr. 2026
No small wonder that Scorcese self-cannibalized the move in several subsequent projects.
—
Literary Hub,
15 Apr. 2026
SaaS profit margins may compress and consolidation may follow, but not because AI cannibalized the industry, Kahn explains.
—
Sheryl Estrada,
Fortune,
6 Apr. 2026
Yeah, streamers have really cannibalized the romcom genre.
—
Zac Ntim,
Deadline,
1 Apr. 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cannibalized
Verb
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Since the launch of LineShine, the supercomputer has been used for applications ranging from climate modeling and engineering simulations to drug discovery, neuroscience and AI, the center said.
-
The newer techniques, and the ones being used by the better clinics in Turkey, are FUE and DHI.
Verb
-
Normally, this hot water is simply disposed off into a larger body of water and recycled, which is a waste of energy.
-
Frequently informal and poorly regulated, both virgin and recycled polyester supply chains can expose workers to severe human-rights risks, including harassment, violence and abuse.
Cite this Entry
“Cannibalized.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cannibalized. Accessed 26 Jun. 2026.
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