: 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 fuel Barry 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
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.
Example Sentences
He cannibalized one washing machine to fix another. Many parts of the engine were cannibalized from older cars.
Recent Examples on the WebEven when given the opportunity to couple with females that are less likely to cannibalize them, males will select the man-eating mates. Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 20 July 2022 There used to be a time where brands’ ultimate concern was that Amazon would somehow cannibalize their DTC or retail sales. Kiri Masters, Forbes, 12 July 2022 Wall Street analysts have expressed confidence that Netflix’s advertising tier won’t cannibalize its existing subscriber base. Todd Spangler, Variety, 19 July 2022 Breweries don’t seek to cannibalize one another but choose to coexist instead. Blaine Callahan, Hartford Courant, 24 June 2022 Cloud costs are directly related to resources consumed, so lifting and shifting without a strong strategic foundation can cannibalize your savings. Steve Daly, Forbes, 16 May 2022 These three inputs cannibalize each other constantly. Greg Story, Forbes, 4 May 2022 But the shift seemed to merely cannibalize Black Friday sales, with big crowds showing up for doorbuster deals on Thanksgiving. Anne D'innocenzio, The Christian Science Monitor, 23 Nov. 2021 Its shares fell 28% yesterday after analysts and investors expressed concerns that the online retailer’s new service—online shopping—might cannibalize its core business of personalized subscription boxes. Claire Zillman, Fortune, 9 Dec. 2021 See More