1. to take parts from one thing to repair or build another
2. to reduce the sales of one product by introducing a similar competing product from the same company
Usage: business
3. to practice cannibalism; to eat the flesh of one’s own species

Examples

• The mechanic cannibalized the old car for spare parts.
• We had to cannibalize two broken computers to make one working machine.
• The company worried that their new smartphone would cannibalize sales of their existing model.
• The tablet’s success cannibalized the laptop market within the company.
• Some animal species will cannibalize their young under extreme stress.
• The repair shop cannibalizes old appliances to fix newer ones.