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
American health care costs are cannibalizing the economy.
—
Washington Post, 4 Feb. 2026
The Post’s second bet is on the viability of text at a moment when fewer people are reading articles online, and as tech platforms are cannibalizing search traffic and directing users away from news.
—Max Tani, semafor.com, 2 Feb. 2026
Landlords are lowering rents, raising concessions, and competing fiercely for tenants, even if that means cannibalizing older and less competitive developments.
—Aldo Svaldi, Denver Post, 22 Jan. 2026
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
Washington Post, 4 Feb. 2026
The Post’s second bet is on the viability of text at a moment when fewer people are reading articles online, and as tech platforms are cannibalizing search traffic and directing users away from news.
—Max Tani, semafor.com, 2 Feb. 2026
Landlords are lowering rents, raising concessions, and competing fiercely for tenants, even if that means cannibalizing older and less competitive developments.
—Aldo Svaldi, Denver Post, 22 Jan. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cannibalizing
Verb
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Such batteries are also much easier and safer to dispose of, and can potentially be made using cheaper and less rare materials.—
Christopher McFadden,
Interesting Engineering,
21 Feb. 2026
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This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a USA Today editor.—
USA Today staff,
USA Today,
21 Feb. 2026
Verb
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In the real sense, all of them are recycling racist practices.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
18 Feb. 2026
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Similarly, to-go styrofoam and compostable beverage cups shouldn't go in the recycling bin.—
Maria Sabella,
The Spruce,
16 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Cannibalizing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cannibalizing. Accessed 22 Feb. 2026.
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