as in uses
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 cannibalizes
Terrified of losing speculative momentum, Google threw its immense cash reserves into an arms race that actively cannibalizes its own business model.
—
Sunil Sharan, Fortune, 27 May 2026
To some extent, the cool commercial logic of the fashion industry—which transforms beautiful, original works into cheaply reproducible goods, season after season—echoes that of Hollywood, which regularly cannibalizes and, yes, franchises its greatest successes.
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 29 Apr. 2026
But if the workforce can’t scale with those policies, the policy just cannibalizes itself.
—Andrew Leahey, Forbes.com, 19 Aug. 2025
Sunil Sharan, Fortune, 27 May 2026
To some extent, the cool commercial logic of the fashion industry—which transforms beautiful, original works into cheaply reproducible goods, season after season—echoes that of Hollywood, which regularly cannibalizes and, yes, franchises its greatest successes.
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 29 Apr. 2026
But if the workforce can’t scale with those policies, the policy just cannibalizes itself.
—Andrew Leahey, Forbes.com, 19 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cannibalizes
Verb
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One of the most criticized uses a four-letter word widely considered homophobic.—
Michael Rios,
CNN Money,
7 June 2026
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This gray-and-white kitchen uses two-tone paint and Shaker-style fronts for a classic design.—
Lauren Jones,
The Spruce,
6 June 2026
Verb
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The property investor, which tends to be a high-net-worth individual or family office, gets a high-rent tenant plus major depreciation deductions, while the operator recycles capital into expansion.—
Diana Olick,
CNBC,
19 May 2026
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Experiments fail often, but the system learns quickly because entry is cheap, exit is tolerated, and capital recycles rapidly.—
David H. Hsu,
Fortune,
11 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Cannibalizes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cannibalizes. Accessed 14 Jun. 2026.
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