Cannibalize
/ˈkænɪbəlaɪz/verb
To take parts from one thing to use in something else, usually because you don't have new parts.
We had to cannibalize old cars to fix the engine of the new one.
Often appears as...
- cannibalize parts
- cannibalize resources
verb
In business, to reduce the sales of one product by introducing a new product that is similar.
The company's new smartphone cannibalized sales of its older models.
Often appears as...
- cannibalize sales
- cannibalize market
Usage tips
Academic
verb
To eat the flesh of your own kind.
In extreme situations of survival, some animals cannibalize their own kind.
Often appears as...
- cannibalize others
- cannibalize peers
Usage tips
Disapproving
verb
To take parts from one thing to use in something else, usually because you don't have new parts.
We had to cannibalize old cars to fix the engine of the new one.
Often appears as...
- cannibalize parts
- cannibalize resources
verb
In business, to reduce the sales of one product by introducing a new product that is similar.
The company's new smartphone cannibalized sales of its older models.
Often appears as...
- cannibalize sales
- cannibalize market
Usage tips
Academic
verb
To eat the flesh of your own kind.
In extreme situations of survival, some animals cannibalize their own kind.
Often appears as...
- cannibalize others
- cannibalize peers
Usage tips
Disapproving
Definition 1 of 3
Pro Tip 1/3Resourcefulness
Highlights creativity in using available resources to solve problems when new ones aren't available.
The mechanics had to cannibalize spare parts to keep the machinery operational.
Pro Tip 2/3Not Destructive
Clarifies that 'cannibalize' in this context doesn't imply destruction but rather repurposing.
We cannibalized unused servers for their components, not to discard them, but to upgrade other systems.
Pro Tip 3/3Practical Solution
Emphasizes 'cannibalize' as a practical, often temporary, fix when other options aren't possible.
To restore power, engineers cannibalized parts from less critical systems.
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Video examples
Technology makes way for...
will see low-cost niche voice operators because it is extremely difficult for the mobile operators to cannibalize their own existing high revenues some may be able to do it but not all of them and if you look at companies like locale
Video examples
Car Cannibals PIPE Dirty...
here's the deal fellas the challenge for tonight we're going to cannibalize the vehicles in some way shape or form to take things with us that will make us more comfortable to camp take anything
Video examples
These squids can fly......
And since adult squid tend to cannibalize juveniles, soaring above the surf can help ensure these young squid will live to fly another day.
Video examples
The Planet Earth...
makes sense if you want to protect your food supply but exactly why they cannibalize the dead chimp is not fully understood it
Video examples
Ruby Sales: How we can...
Or do you want to continue to cannibalize your multiple identities and privilege one identity over the other?
Video examples
Technology makes way for...
will see low-cost niche voice operators because it is extremely difficult for the mobile operators to cannibalize their own existing high revenues some may be able to do it but not all of them and if you look at companies like locale
Video examples
Car Cannibals PIPE Dirty...
here's the deal fellas the challenge for tonight we're going to cannibalize the vehicles in some way shape or form to take things with us that will make us more comfortable to camp take anything
Video examples
These squids can fly......
And since adult squid tend to cannibalize juveniles, soaring above the surf can help ensure these young squid will live to fly another day.
Video examples
The Planet Earth...
makes sense if you want to protect your food supply but exactly why they cannibalize the dead chimp is not fully understood it
Video examples
Ruby Sales: How we can...
Or do you want to continue to cannibalize your multiple identities and privilege one identity over the other?
Example 1 of 5
Quote examples
Jay Samit
American Businessman
To thrive, all businesses must focus on the art of self-disruption. Rather than wait for the competition to steal your business, every founder and employee needs to be willing to cannibalize their existing revenue streams in order to create new ones. All disruption starts with introspection.
Quote examples
Brock Pierce
American Businessman
The VC industry has benefited greatly from technology and the Internet, so I see how the VC industry is going to get disintermediated, decentralized, disrupted, so I can sit around and wait for someone to disrupt ourselves, or we can choose to disrupt or cannibalize ourselves.
Quote examples
Daniel Tosh
American Comedian
I never want to cannibalize my act, and I'm really excited that I am going to be able to perform new material. I'm not a huge fan of repeating jokes, and I don't really do any of my old material from old stand-up acts.
Quote examples
Therese Fowler
American Author
No writing effort is ever wasted. At the very least, it's practice, and a writer never knows when he or she might usefully cannibalize an earlier effort for something new.
Quote examples
Safra A. Catz
American Businesswoman
Oracle has grown and advanced because we've been consistently willing to cannibalize ourselves.
Quote examples
Tim Cook
American Businessman
I'd rather Apple cannibalize Apple than somebody else cannibalize Apple.
Quote examples
Jay Samit
American Businessman
To thrive, all businesses must focus on the art of self-disruption. Rather than wait for the competition to steal your business, every founder and employee needs to be willing to cannibalize their existing revenue streams in order to create new ones. All disruption starts with introspection.
Quote examples
Brock Pierce
American Businessman
The VC industry has benefited greatly from technology and the Internet, so I see how the VC industry is going to get disintermediated, decentralized, disrupted, so I can sit around and wait for someone to disrupt ourselves, or we can choose to disrupt or cannibalize ourselves.
Quote examples
Daniel Tosh
American Comedian
I never want to cannibalize my act, and I'm really excited that I am going to be able to perform new material. I'm not a huge fan of repeating jokes, and I don't really do any of my old material from old stand-up acts.
Quote examples
Therese Fowler
American Author
No writing effort is ever wasted. At the very least, it's practice, and a writer never knows when he or she might usefully cannibalize an earlier effort for something new.
Quote examples
Safra A. Catz
American Businesswoman
Oracle has grown and advanced because we've been consistently willing to cannibalize ourselves.
Quote examples
Tim Cook
American Businessman
I'd rather Apple cannibalize Apple than somebody else cannibalize Apple.
Example 1 of 6
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