CANNIBALIZE Synonyms: 26 Similar and Opposite Words

cannibalize

verb

Definition of cannibalize

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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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of cannibalize Ensembles of this size historically cannibalize their own campaigns, splitting supporting votes into confetti. — Clayton Davis, Variety, 23 July 2026 Just as a host shouldn’t cannibalize their guests, guests shouldn’t overstay their welcome—which is exactly what the suitors courting Penelope do. — Natasha O'Neill, Vanity Fair, 16 July 2026 By 1816, gun manufacturer Simeon North’s milling machines were producing interchangeable metal parts, allowing the armed forces to cannibalize parts. — Guru Madhavan, IEEE Spectrum, 29 June 2026 But on top of that, many series decide to submit only one episode per category to keep from cannibalizing their own vote totals. — Joe Reid, Vulture, 20 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for cannibalize

Recent Examples of Synonyms for cannibalize

Verb

The Triglav Lodge, Slovenia’s highest-altitude guest hut at an elevation of 2,515 meters (8,251 feet), is using paper plates this summer to save water on dishes.

— ABC News, ABC News, 20 Aug. 2026
Ukraine has been relatively successful at intercepting the massive numbers of drones that Russia uses in its large-scale attacks.

— Kosta Gak, CNN Money, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of use

Verb

These materials could previously not be recycled due to potential contamination.

— Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 20 Aug. 2026
Regarding textile waste, there has not been sufficient development of traceability practices in either country to determine whether textile waste is recycled or put to productive use.

— Cleo Levin, Footwear News, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of recycle

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cannibalize

cannibalized

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“Cannibalize.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cannibalize. Accessed 21 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of cannibalize

verb

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