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
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
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
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cannibalized
Verb
-
The Washington Nationals used Richard Lovelady, who blew Monday’s series opener, as an opener, followed by veteran Miles Mikolas for a bulk appearance, their most promising combination given their roster construction and arms available.—
Danielle Allentuck,
Washington Post,
3 June 2026
-
Beyond the glass wall is a long wooden deck with a small dining table and a full-sized day bed (which can also be used for sleeping at night).—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
3 June 2026
Verb
-
This bill was signed into law in 2022 to reduce the impact of these types of single-use plastics by requiring that, by 2032, the use of these materials are cut by 25%, that 65% are recycled, and 100% of these single-use items are recyclable or compostable.—
Lisa Deaderick,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
31 May 2026
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Let’s move toward a circular economy in all possible ways; even a very special raw material like this can be recycled into something new of high quality.—
Rosemary Feitelberg,
Footwear News,
28 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Cannibalized.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cannibalized. Accessed 3 Jun. 2026.
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