1. to take parts from something to use in repairing or building something else
Usage: past tense of cannibalize
2. to reduce the sales or market share of one’s own product by introducing a competing product
Usage: business context; past tense of cannibalize

Examples

• The mechanic cannibalized the old car for spare parts.
• They cannibalized two broken computers to make one working machine.
• The company cannibalized its own bestselling product with the new release.
• The restaurant chain cannibalized sales from its existing locations by opening too many new stores.
• We cannibalized the damaged equipment to repair the other machines.
• The new smartphone model cannibalized sales of the previous version.