cannibalize

verb

can·​ni·​bal·​ize ˈka-nə-bə-ˌlīz How to pronounce cannibalize (audio)
cannibalized; cannibalizing

transitive verb

1
a
: to take salvageable parts from (something, such as a disabled machine) for use in building or repairing another machine
b
: to make use of (a part taken from one thing) in building, repairing, or creating something else
2
: to deprive of an essential part or element in creating or sustaining another facility or enterprise
the energy system has begun cannibalizing the economic system it is supposed to fuelBarry Commoner
3
: to use or draw on material of (another writer, an earlier work, etc.)
a biography that cannibalizes previous biographies
4
: to take (sales) away from an existing product by selling or being sold as a similar but new product usually from the same manufacturer
also : to affect (something, such as an existing product) adversely by cannibalizing sales
5
astronomy, of a celestial object : to incorporate mass from (a nearby object) through gravitational attraction
But some stellar black holes make themselves known because they exist in a binary systems as the companion to a normal star, which they are cannibalizing.John Noble Wilford

intransitive verb

1
: to practice cannibalism
2
: to cannibalize one unit for the sake of another of the same kind
cannibalization noun

Did you know?

During World War II, military personnel often used salvageable parts from disabled vehicles and aircraft to repair other vehicles and aircraft. This sacrifice of one thing for the sake of another of its kind must have reminded some folks of cannibalism by humans and animals because the process came to be known as cannibalizing. The armed forces of this time were also known to cannibalize—that is, to take away personnel from—units to build up other units. It didn't take long for this military slang to become civilianized. Since its demobilization, the term has been used in a variety of contexts.

Examples of cannibalize in a Sentence

He cannibalized one washing machine to fix another. Many parts of the engine were cannibalized from older cars.
Recent Examples on the Web Sports are still highly profitable on cable, so even as consumers leave linear television, companies can’t move sports to streaming without cannibalizing a revenue-driving segment of their businesses. Rachyl Jones, Fortune, 23 Feb. 2024 But, the boxes are meant to compliment, not cannibalize person-to-person alcohol sales. Mike Dojc, Forbes, 15 Feb. 2024 Establishing debit and credit card relationships with young consumers will position BNPL providers to expand—seamlessly and efficiently—into other personal loan categories, further cannibalizing banks and credit unions. Ron Shevlin, Forbes, 19 Feb. 2024 Hellworld is the point at which the series begins to cannibalize itself, shamelessly lifting the saturated palette, gory traps, and twisty ending from Saw's playbook and effectively becoming an imitation of an imitation. Declan Gallagher, EW.com, 19 Oct. 2023 Any product the Times helps OpenAI build would likely cannibalize its existing advertising and subscription model. Jeremy Kahn, Fortune, 9 Jan. 2024 The concern expressed by some scientists, including former NASA science chief Thomas Zurbuchen, was that the ballooning cost of Mars Sample Return would cannibalize funding from other science missions. Beth Mole, Ars Technica, 21 Sep. 2023 The pause in new iPads also comes as Apple is working to add touch screens to its Mac computers, a decision that cofounder Steve Jobs once rejected and one the company previously worried could cannibalize iPad sales. Chris Morris, Fortune, 2 Jan. 2024 Neither Getty’s nor Nvidia’s existing business was cannibalized by the new product. Jeremy Kahn, Fortune, 9 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'cannibalize.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1873, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of cannibalize was in 1873

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Dictionary Entries Near cannibalize

Cite this Entry

“Cannibalize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cannibalize. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

cannibalize

verb
can·​ni·​bal·​ize ˈkan-ə-bə-ˌlīz How to pronounce cannibalize (audio)
cannibalized; cannibalizing
: to take apart a machine for parts to be used as replacements in other machines
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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