as in using
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 cannibalizing
At the same time, its recent performance has allayed fears that broadening its AI offerings meant cannibalizing revenue from its core search business.
—
Jeff John Roberts, Fortune, 17 Dec. 2025
Devoting more funding to denial capabilities risks cannibalizing resources for military platforms more capable of threatening punishment, such as stealthy bombers and submarines armed with cruise missiles.
—Zack Cooper, Foreign Affairs, 6 Nov. 2025
Ducatillion described the agreement with Pimkie and the promotion of Lhomme as a smokescreen to make the company appear supportive of the textiles and fashion industry, while simultaneously cannibalizing it.
—Rhonda Richford, Footwear News, 16 Sep. 2025
In other words, there's plenty that Apple could upgrade here without cannibalizing sales of the mainstream Series 11 watch.
—Andrew Cunningham, ArsTechnica, 5 Sep. 2025
Roller Hockey International, for example, launched in 1993 and folded five years later after expanding too rapidly, cannibalizing its national sponsorships and losing its ESPN TV deal.
—Justin Birnbaum, Forbes.com, 26 Aug. 2025
Doing it that way gives Netflix the opportunity to eventize the film on a premium format for those who want it, all without cannibalizing the audience that would watch it at home.
—Brian Welk, IndieWire, 25 Aug. 2025
That hit would come after several years of the city shelling out millions more in pension contributions to prevent the funds from cannibalizing their own assets.
—Alice Yin, Chicago Tribune, 5 Aug. 2025
The President’s books are still reporting healthy sales, but are being consumed by AI engines which profit from his thoughts by cannibalizing his concepts, thus undermining future sales of his books.
—Dade Hayes, Deadline, 5 Aug. 2025
Jeff John Roberts, Fortune, 17 Dec. 2025
Devoting more funding to denial capabilities risks cannibalizing resources for military platforms more capable of threatening punishment, such as stealthy bombers and submarines armed with cruise missiles.
—Zack Cooper, Foreign Affairs, 6 Nov. 2025
Ducatillion described the agreement with Pimkie and the promotion of Lhomme as a smokescreen to make the company appear supportive of the textiles and fashion industry, while simultaneously cannibalizing it.
—Rhonda Richford, Footwear News, 16 Sep. 2025
In other words, there's plenty that Apple could upgrade here without cannibalizing sales of the mainstream Series 11 watch.
—Andrew Cunningham, ArsTechnica, 5 Sep. 2025
Roller Hockey International, for example, launched in 1993 and folded five years later after expanding too rapidly, cannibalizing its national sponsorships and losing its ESPN TV deal.
—Justin Birnbaum, Forbes.com, 26 Aug. 2025
Doing it that way gives Netflix the opportunity to eventize the film on a premium format for those who want it, all without cannibalizing the audience that would watch it at home.
—Brian Welk, IndieWire, 25 Aug. 2025
That hit would come after several years of the city shelling out millions more in pension contributions to prevent the funds from cannibalizing their own assets.
—Alice Yin, Chicago Tribune, 5 Aug. 2025
The President’s books are still reporting healthy sales, but are being consumed by AI engines which profit from his thoughts by cannibalizing his concepts, thus undermining future sales of his books.
—Dade Hayes, Deadline, 5 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cannibalizing
Verb
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Though Amelia is a particularly viral example, using AI to generate content was already a popular pastime for the online right in Britain.—
Issy Ronald,
CNN Money,
31 Jan. 2026
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Those who bought the checks would then attempt to fraudulently cash them, according to federal prosecutors, using a variety of methods.—
Joseph Buczek,
CBS News,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
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China’s Recycling Lead China dominates not just primary mineral extraction and refining but also recycling infrastructure.—
Kristen Edgreen Kaufman,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
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Senate Majority Leader Lori Den Hartog of Meridian introduced the idea, recycling language from a bill that House Speaker Mike Moyle of Star brought to the floor in 2025.—
Mark Dee,
Idaho Statesman,
24 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Cannibalizing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cannibalizing. Accessed 31 Jan. 2026.
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