as in to use
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 cannibalize
Sometimes this means cannibalizing aspects of older songs.
—
Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 18 Mar. 2025
To be clear: Schumer is not at risk of being deposed in short order, and Democrats do not carry House Republicans’ appetite for cannibalizing their own.
—Philip Elliott, TIME, 14 Mar. 2025
In comments at the Morgan Stanley media conference, the Fox CEO was again extremely careful to stress that the goal is not to cannibalize linear television and Fox will not advertise it on linear television but is meant purely to capture those who cut the cord or have never subscribed to cable.
—Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 3 Mar. 2025
While the power conferences cannibalized themselves, UConn continued to cruise through the end of Big East play with a pair of wins over No. 23 Creighton and Marquette last week.
—Emily Adams, Hartford Courant, 3 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cannibalize
Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 18 Mar. 2025
To be clear: Schumer is not at risk of being deposed in short order, and Democrats do not carry House Republicans’ appetite for cannibalizing their own.
—Philip Elliott, TIME, 14 Mar. 2025
In comments at the Morgan Stanley media conference, the Fox CEO was again extremely careful to stress that the goal is not to cannibalize linear television and Fox will not advertise it on linear television but is meant purely to capture those who cut the cord or have never subscribed to cable.
—Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 3 Mar. 2025
While the power conferences cannibalized themselves, UConn continued to cruise through the end of Big East play with a pair of wins over No. 23 Creighton and Marquette last week.
—Emily Adams, Hartford Courant, 3 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cannibalize
Cite this Entry
“Cannibalize.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cannibalize. Accessed 12 Apr. 2025.
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